As young black men in the United States, we are, and should be considered an endangered species. We have three strikes against us, young, black and male and that only encompasses just being born.
The numbers are quite alarming when you consider that in 2012, black males ages 15 to 19 were nearly four times more likely to commit suicide, six times more likely to be victims of homicide, and eight times more likely to be involved in a firearm-related death than were females of the same age.

When it comes to incarceration, African Americans constitute nearly 1 million of the total 2.3 million incarcerated population and are incarcerated at nearly six times the rate of their white counterparts.
In a black man’s lifetime, one in six black men has been incarcerated at one point in time. If current trends continue, one in three black males born today can expect to spend time in prison during his lifetime.

And when it comes to our youth, African-Americans represent 26% of juvenile arrests, 44% of youth who are detained, 46% of the youth who are judicially waived to criminal court, and 58% of the youth admitted to state prisons

The numbers are alarmingly disproportionate, and I don’t feel like it is getting better. Although there are many contributing factors that make up these numbers, it is believed that inner city crime prompted by social and economic isolation weighs heavily on the results. When you consider the crime and drug arrest rates, African Americans represent 12% of monthly drug users, but comprise 32% of persons arrested for drug