A first-of-its-kind scorecard rating U.S. cities for their level of public engagement and commitment to improving educational and life outcomes for Black men and boys has named Oakland, California, Detroit and Washington, D.C., tops in the country.
The national membership network Campaign for Black Male Achievement (CBMA) touted public school initiatives in those three cities and elsewhere when it released its index of 50 cities last week. These cities are home to 5.5 million Black men and boys, which is more than 30 percent of this population nationally.
Titled “The Promise of Place,” the report is not a listing of best cities to live, nor does it imply that Black males in these cities are necessarily faring well. However, the scorecard rates cities based on their efforts to advance Black males and reduce disparities in educational attainment, employment, incarceration rates and other areas of well-being.
Oakland, Detroit and Washington, D.C., each scored 95 points out of a possible 100. Among other factors, points were awarded based on city-led commitments to address systemic challenges facing Black males, the amount of philanthropic dollars poured into Black male-focused organizations, and the presence of national initiatives and organizations targeting Black men and boys.
