Washington has jobs. Black men need a clearer path from family to work.
For 25 years, I served as a Black male teacher, principal, and college professor, working with Black boys and young men in multiple states, including Washington. I no longer live there, but the patterns I witnessed in Washington’s communities mirror what I’ve seen nationwide. They point to a hard truth: Black male unemployment is not primarily a jobs problem. It is a connection problem — between family, education, and work.