Data/Research: Men of Color

Men of color face unique challenges in both K-12 and higher education. The impacts of these challenges include disparities in school-discipline rates and graduation/retention rates for boys and men of color compared with other students. 

They are also severely underrepresented in the ranks of K-12 teachers and college professors. Here are resources for reporting on these groups using data and research as well as sources to consider for coverage. 

Research and Data Sources

American Institute for Boys and Men: Here’s a report about the lack of male teachers.

Class Action: This report examines the sharp decline in the number of Black students attending elite U.S. colleges after the end of affirmative action. 

John Mercer Langston Institute for African American Political Leadership: This report provides data on Black boys’ and men’s educational progress and attainment. It also examines economic indicators, such as homeownership rates and median weekly earnings for Black Americans, and in some cases, Black men specifically.  

My Brother’s Keeper (MBK): This is an inter-agency effort to improve educational and life outcomes for boys and young men of color (including African Americans, Hispanic Americans, and Native Americans). This data provides historical context for stories on these issues.    

National Center for Education Statistics:  Review degrees conferred by race/ethnicity and sex.

Postsecondary National Policy Institute:The fact sheet focuses on men of color in higher education.

University of California, Berkeley Public Health: This report explains that Black students are punished more often.

Relevant Analysis, Blogs and Coverage  

Education Insights Center: “Bridging the Gap: The Decline of Latino/Black Men in Higher Education.” This detailed blog post examines how high school students of color are interested in attending college, and it suggests concrete steps for moving the needle in a positive direction. 

Education Week: “What Black Men Need From Schools to Stay in the Teaching Profession.” This special report highlights the high turnover rate among Black male teachers, and it examines potential solutions to this problem. 

Inside Higher Ed: “How Well Do For-Profit Colleges Serve Black Students?” The article demonstrated that Black students are overrepresented at for-profit colleges. 

NEA Today: In “The Racist Beginnings of Standardized Testing,” This publication from the National Education Association explains how students of color have suffered from the effects of biased testing.

The Hechinger Report: “Who gets held back? Black boys, by a 3-1 ratio compared to white boys.” This article analyzes more than a decade’s worth of national data, which shows that Black boys are held back at nearly three times the rate of white boys.  

Experts on Men of Color

Anthony L. Brown, professor of curriculum and instruction, The University of Texas at Austin and Louis Harrison, professor emeritus, The University of Texas at Austin: co-creators of a national database of peer-reviewed research focused on Black men in education. 

David Perez II, an associate professor of higher education in the School of Education at Syracuse University. He is also a researcher for Project MALES (Mentoring to Achieve Latino Educational Success). 

Frank Harris III, a professor of postsecondary education and co-director of the Community College Equity Assessment Lab.

Lashawn Richburg-Hayes, vice president of education at Insight Policy Research.

Leon Phú Strayer, senior coordinator, male success initiatives at California State Polytechnic University-Pomona: authored a 2025 study on how men of color make sense of race, gender and masculinity.

Marvin Dunn, prominent Black history author, professor emeritus at Florida International University, race-relations expert and historian.

Rodney Eugene Alford, dean of mathematics and natural sciences Calhoun Community College: conducted research examining a “short-lived” community college success initiative for Black men.

Shaun Harper, racial equity expert and provost professor in the University of Southern California Rossier School of Education, Marshall School of Business and Price School of Public Policy. 

Mentorship and Support Organizations

5000 Role Models of Excellence Project: This is a community-based organization that works to create “supportive relationships between youth and positive, successful individuals in the community who can serve as mentors and role models.” 

Men of Color in Educational Leadership (MCEL): Focused on building the pipeline of Black men who enter educational leadership roles, MCEL provides career guidance, as well as emotional support. 

Project MALES (Mentoring to Achieve Latino Educational Success): This organization works to advance educational outcomes for collegiate men and middle/high school youth at The University of Texas at Austin and throughout Central Texas.