Black Sorority Takes Steps to Reduce the Gender Gap in African-American Higher Education

Since JBHE was founded 13 years ago, the large and growing gender gap in African-American higher education has always been an issue of major concern to our editorial board and to African Americans generally. Black women now make up more than 60 percent of all African-American enrollments in higher education. And black women earn an even greater share of all bachelor’s degrees awarded to African Americans. More than 70 percent of all master’s degrees awarded to African Americans go to black women.

Now some black women are taking steps to reduce the gender gap. Alpha Kappa Alpha, the historically black sorority, is undertaking a major new effort to mentor young black men. The program, entitled “Economics, Sisterhood, Partnership,” will help young women develop entrepreneurial skills and provide tutoring for young men to help them prepare for college.

Alpha Kappa Alpha was founded in 1908 on the campus of Howard University. It currently has 200,000 members.

Copyright © 2006. The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education. All rights reserved.