The African American Male Scholars Initiative at Saint Louis University recently convened more than 200 participants from as far away as Connecticut for a conference titled “The Campus and Beyond: The Role of the Black Male Scholar in the 21st Century.”
The African American Male Scholars Initiative (AAMS) is co-chaired by Latanya Buck, director of SLU’s Cross Cultural Center, and Stefan Bradley, associate professor of history and African-American Studies at SLU.
“We are very proud of our African American Male Scholars Initiative here and thought that it would be powerful if we could host similar groups and supporters of black male students,” Bradley said.
“In light of the events surrounding the tragic deaths of Trayvon Martin and so many other black youth, students and educators, as well as local community members, politicians, leaders, and organizations showed up in strength to support our young men.”
Bradley and Buck worked with SLU staff, students and other departments to produce an all-day conference featuring Syracuse University finance professor Boyce Watkins; faculty from Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville, Missouri State University, St. Louis Community College and the University of Missouri; and local community advocates such as James Clark of Better Family Life. SLU student Rodney Pruitt served as Master of Ceremonies.
“It is our mission to teach and foster a climate of multicultural awareness on our campus and surrounding community,” Buck said. “We strive to assist our students to be prepared to thrive in a multicultural society.”
Derrick Robinson and Rev. Timothy Hughes, co-founders of Youth Development Services, Inc. and co-hosts of Key to Life, which airs on WGNU 920 AM, conducted a session titled “Perspective of Culture and Character of the African American Male in the Post-Secondary Environment.”
The conference focused on the history and identity of black men on campus, ways black men on campus can engage the larger black community, the education and mis-education of black men, and best practices in black male student recruitment and retention.
“We came together to show that we not only care for those of the least-retained demographic on college campuses, but that we are willing to match the students’ efforts if they show the initiative,” said Bradley.
Session topics included “Learning the Unwritten Rules for African American Male Professionals,” facilitated by Steven Taylor of Southeast Missouri State University, Reginald Whitted and Allen Rice; and “Males to M.E.N.: Mentors/ Entrepreneurs/ Next Educated in the 21st Century,” facilitated by Keith Antone Willis, publisher of Who’s Who in Black St. Louis.
A session titled “Do You Have Swag,” facilitated by Valeri Reynolds of Webster University, provided a fun and interactive way of addressing the topic of African-American recruitment and retention on college campuses.
Representatives from Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Eastern Missouri were on hand to offer information about civic and community involvement.
“My favorite part of the conference was when I, in the way of the black communal tradition of call-and-response, shouted, ‘Scholars!’ and the young men in attendance loudly replied in unison, ‘Yes, sir!’” Bradley said.
“I felt that they believed they were scholars, and believing is one of the first steps to achievement.”
For more information on the African American Male Scholars Initiative or other SLU Cross Cultural Center programs, call 314-977-2119 or visit slu.edu/ccc.xml.
