Black History Month: African- American representation in Education
Black Excellence
MARYLAND – Research shows that young Black males perform better academically when they have a Black male teacher or other role model in school.
African Americans in Academia
The National Center for Education reports in 2024 Black men made up less than 2 percent of public-school teachers,
and on the shore, one man is aiming to turn those statistics around.
Meet Dr. Richard Warren, husband, father, and professor at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore for the past 5 years. “We become what we see the most. Especially when it comes to African American males. They see a lot of sports athletes, they see a lot of entertainment and it’s something. That is visualized.”
Be what you See
In 2019, he was the first black man to be named Maryland’s teacher of the year and says this is a prime example of why more representation is needed. “Naturally you’ll see a lot of young Black boys aspiring to be what they see, but not necessarily so in the case of academia… We as black individuals, need to do a better job at pushing this envelope and making sure that we are represented and we are heard, and not just for a moment but throughout eternity.”
Warren says appointments, like his, to the Chair of education policy under Governor Wes Moore are prime examples of what he calls Black Excellence. This is a term dating back to the 1970s referring to a high level of achievement, success, or ability and can also refer to an aspiration.
Black Boy Joy
Warren says to encourage Black excellence, you must have Black educators. “Black excellence is culture, it’s how we show up, it’s how we represent ourselves, it’s how we speak, it’s how we interact, it’s how we cook, it’s how we show up in spaces as your true authentic self. Black Excellence is who we are. It’s not a check mark, it’s a becoming.”
Young, Gifted, & Black
He says Black history should not only highlight the past generations, but the future Black leaders to come. “I think it’s a fine balance between honoring those who came before you, and respecting that, because there’s something unique about that. But I also think it’s something special about trailblazing your own path, and not resting upon a legacy that’s already been created.”
Dr. Richard Warren runs the Men of Color Education program at UMES, which encourages students to graduate high school and continue their education. He says, there’s always more work to be done. Visit The University of Maryland Eastern Shore’s website for more information on the Men of Color Education Program.
