Why are the Percentages of Blacks so Small in Universities?

After three years of university, there is something that has been boggling my mind. Through my amazing program I have learned to analyze political phenomena from two different approaches. In the field of politics, many political theorists and analysts use either the "institutional approach", or the "societal approach" to try to explain how or why a political development has occurred.

I'm going to translate the institutional and societal approaches from the political setting to the social setting, to try and get us thinking about the possible answers to our question: Why are the percentage of blacks so small in universities?

This attempt to use political approaches to a contentious social issue is simply my way of thinking about the situation. Using very little empirical data, the analysis I'm doing is simply based on my prior knowledge of the university setting, and the black community setting. There are always, obviously, exceptions to every conclusion made or every cause brought forth. I just really want to get people thinking...

Institutional Approach= this approach assumes that institutions are created to shape the society, in other words, the causal arrow flows from the institutions to the society (institutions ----> society). The Charter of Rights and Freedoms for example, would have been created as a tool to shape the social and political and even cultural body of Canada.

In connection to the small percentage of blacks in universities:

The institutional approach would suggest that the institution of the university was created to enrol only certain groups of the society, or that it's standards shaped the body of people that would study in their institutions. A radical view to this approach would perceive the university, in it's initial days, as an attempt to enlighten and educate the predominately white body of people. A less radical view to this approach is that with the creation of the university, the amount of resources necessary to put into it's establishment only has allowed certain classes of people to be able to make use of the institution. In the past, as a result of racial dominance and slavery, blacks were thought of as of the lowest class, and didn't have the same financial opportunities as the white majority did which prevented them from attending university. In this case, it is the institution itself (of the university) that has attempted to shape the society (of blacks) to one that has a small percentage of university enrolment.

Societal Approach= this approach suggests that the conditions in society result in the creation of certain institutions; institutions such as the Charter of Rights and Freedoms for example was created as a reflection of society and for the purpose of fulfilling the needs of the society. This approach suggests that social forces are the main drivers of political development; the causal arrow flows from the society to the institutions (society----> institutions)

In the connection to the small percentage of blacks in universities:

This approach would suggest that the social trends and characteristics of the black community (in general) is the reason why there are such few blacks enrolled in university. A radical view of this approach would suggest that some of the common stereotypical activities that turn our to be trends in some black communities has stopped them from being qualified for university. This radicalist would suggest that the high percentage of teenage parenthood, the high high-school dropout rate, and the high crime rate in some black communities are all social factors that have driven them out of the spectrum of possible university applicants. In this case, it is the society (of blacks) that has prevented the institutions (of universities) from allowing them to have a comparable enrolment percentage to other races of people.

Now that both approached have been explained, here is what I think. I think both approaches are necessary to explain such a complex situation, and even with the use of these two approaches, the entirety of the situation would not be clearly explained. Being a third year student, I see the percentage of blacks in my classes getting smaller and smaller. It bugs me for the simple fact that I know no matter what your upbringing was, or how much money you have, every (non-mentally disordered) individual has the same capacity to learn. The way that you look has no correlation to your ability to be a scholar. The examples given above are not necessarily my views, but they are the views of many others and should be taken into consideration when addressing this topic.

Comment, enjoy :)

From the words of an intelligent young black man who beats the stereotypes: 

"Well put. I believe it is a combination of the institutional approach which cultivated the initial make up of our society to set certain requirements and presets, and in turn, society has now been modeled to adhere to the standards which we place on institutions; using the societal approach. I feel we as black people, must further enhance our ambitions toward education, our expectations and accommodations for learning, and push the envelope on the expectations of black youth and students." - Troy Dennie, author of troydennie.blogspot.com