WILLIAM DONALD SCHAEFER, Governor J.R. 3

No. 3
(House Joint Resolution No. 6)

A House Joint Resolution concerning

Governor's Commission on Black Males

FOR the purpose of requesting the Governor to establish a Commission on Black Males
to study the nature and extent of problems of employment, health care, criminal
justice, and education for Black males; and generally relating to the study of
problems confronting Black males.

WHEREAS, All Maryland citizens should have the opportunity to lead healthy
and productive lives; and

WHEREAS, Historical disenfranchisement, discrimination, inadequate education
and skill levels, damaged self esteem, and thwarted aspirations have often undermined
the chances of poor Blacks to compete successfully in the labor market; and

WHEREAS, Costs to society increase as a result of high unemployment in this
segment of the population, resulting in increases in welfare rolls, involvement with
drugs and substance abuse, health problems, crime, and alienation from the family and
society; and

- WHEREAS, The unemployment rate for Black males between the ages 16 and 20
has been a persistent problem for more than 20 years; and

WHEREAS, In 1987, national statistics indicate that over 30 percent of Black
males between ages 16 and 19 were unemployed, compared with 16 percent of White
males who were unemployed; and

WHEREAS, Only 6.8 percent of the students attending Maryland's 13 four-year
colleges and universities are Black males; and

WHEREAS, Black males account for 32.5 percent of Maryland's school children
but make up 67 percent of public school suspensions; and

WHEREAS, Black males have also traditionally faced limited access to health
care; and

WHEREAS, Black males have for the last two consecutive years experienced a
decrease in life span and are at a higher risk for AIDS, hypertension, and alcohol, drug,
and tobacco use and abuse; and

WHEREAS, Due to the stresses created by these limitations, Black males often
repeat the cycle of victimization through peer pressure, teen pregnancy, and violence;
and

WHEREAS, Most murder victims are Black males, and fifty-one percent of the
Black murder victims are under the age of thirty; and

- 2949 -