More Blacks Are Going To College, But Too Many Are In Low Earning Majors 

Let's face it. People get these "feel good" and worthless degrees because they are trying to avoid math theorems.

They are ALWAYS promoting GO TO COLLEGE.... But don't instruct them to go to high paying careers.

My dumbass studied sociology for my first degree. It was fun and interesting but useless. I didn't even feel like I was qualified to work any job of substance when I was done. Having realised my stupidity, I went back school to earn a second bachelor's and I will have my MBA in less than a year. I feel much more prepared to enter the labour market now and I also feel as if I have finally acquired valuable knowledge and skills that I can use to maximise my future earnings. Please talk to your kids so they don't waste time like many of us, make sure they are thinking critically ....I been in this almost 10 years strong smh

Black people with stem degrees have the highest unemployment rate in the tech industry. They also get overlooked for Indians immigrants with h1-b visas. The problem isn't that blacks need to get more stem degrees we need a pipeline that guarantees us jobs after we receive the degree.

I wasted 2 years in psychology. Now im going back in computer engineering.

I'm in automotive training. Planning to one day open up my own shop. At my school I can count the amount of black people here on one hand. Even when I'm watching automotive vids on RU-vid. There's barely any black people in the Automotive industry.

what about trade schools Plumbing, electrician, and heating air condition Etc are these jobs outdated.

Most black women go to school for social work ? And they wonder why there pay is low .

I don’t think your major has anything to do with it, but your race and having a higher education in a society where people cannot get passed the color of your skin does. Statistically people of color make less even with a higher education.

Too many of us go to college just to go. We've been held down so long, just goin is too often seen as an accomplishment all by itself. There has to be a more comprehensive conversation around college in our community.

Regardless of your higher education race will always play a role in if you are hired and if you get equal pay in America. Majority of the time Black applicants will be low balled even if you have a Masters degree. You have to fight for your worth in the job market. White human resources managers only see color not your education level.

Choosing a major is more than the potential income you can make. Students have to make sure a major is align with their interests, personality, values and skills. All students don’t have the aptitude for STEM and fail out of college trying to pass math & science classes. Also, employers don’t care what your bachelors degree is in, except for pre-professional degrees. Employers want to know if you have skills. Students DON’T KNOW HOW TO ARTICULATE THE SKILS THEY GAINED IN COLLEGE!!!!! They also don’t do internships or research possible job titles. If you’re college student or alum and is having a tough time with the job search, VISIT YOUR SCHOOL’S CAREER SERVICES.

Based on these comments, it’s evident and research shows, people lack career development. I can’t believe Roland Martin would record this video with a white researcher from Georgetown versus interviewing black career professionals at Black predominantly schools who can speak accurately and interpret these research results. FYI: Also, black students are exploited in higher education research because we are a minority with a history of educational barriers. Doctoral students find it easy to research us, get their PhD and accolades, and some DON’T DO ANYTHING PROFESSIONALLY TO HELP BLACK STUDENTS.

So true. Please, please, PLEASE keep an eye out on your estimated wage information. Majored in Lib Arts for my Undergrad, as well, but thankfully saved things with a Master's degree that's applicable. Look at the image at the beginning of the video - the left most column is Architecture and Engineering, but even those of us attracted to soft sciences, etc. as opposed to STEM can do very well in IT/data-related "softies" like HCI, GIS, etc. or language-related courses (interpreter/translation jobs very pay well, especially in much needed languages, etc). Also, for those not taking well to hard sciences, consider trying your hand at the likes of coding, etc anyway. You might find yourself liking it (and liking the idea of something centered in IT like networking, etc). But above all else, if you still plan to major in a liberal arts program, double/dual major in something else in what's consider the normally higher paying majors, with it. Get it done all at once, as you might not feel like, nor be in a position to do so later. If you can, in high school try asking your counselor for shadowing opportunities. Even if they don't officially offer something, they'll often be so excited about your being such a self-starter, that they'll go ahead and set it up for you as a special accommodation. Don't underestimate going where you're paid more, either; full/partial scholarships are indicative of the school taking a chance on YOU, and investing in YOU, as opposed to YOU having to do vice versa toward THEM through loans (the feeling of getting out of college free of loans is indescribable - I wish I'd had the chance to do it) - take advantage of them, wherever possible, and make sure you seek out professional organizations for networking opportunities. Keep up with those you went to class with, too, for Graduate classes, especially, since they're usually already working in professional organizations and can help you get your foot in the door sometimes. Others have made mention of race being a constant problem when it comes to pay, and yes indeed, that's true, but at least you sort of buffer that to some degree, depending on your major and job choice, as if you apply for a job that's six figures, even if you're receiving the minimum of that, six figures is better than 4 or 5, until you can do better. If you ever get to the point where you'd like to get into self-contracted Consulting, as well, remember the words of: come up with a price you feel you're worth, and double it. Work down from higher; never, ever give them the chance to pay you less than you're worth.

I would like to see a lot more African American parents getting involved in their children’s educational planning and helping students o Start STEM programs for African American students in predominantly African American neighborhoods will help junior high school and high school students be interested in STEM careers.

We as blacks in this country have to stop listening to the lie of 'college for everyone!' Trade schools (blue collar) earns much more than many of the Humanities classes is pushed by many. K-12 is also horrible for many black because of the poor education. Sorry Roland, it's not slavery, it's bad advice and lack of nuclear households. Better guidance, not excuses! I was fortunate that my mom pushed education for all of her children. We went into fields that pays well. Stop the victim mentality, attitudes of laziness, having children too early and without marriage, and staying in school and you will see a DRASTIC rise in our success! Even before the 1960s blacks were out earning whites. What happened after the 60s? Social programs that killed the drive in blacks. And that's a fact!!!!

My embarrassment happened once when I got all over our Engineering manager because of the 19 openings, he only hired one black person. He explained that they could not find any black applicants and the few two they did find were taken up by the big oil companies. He assured me if I could find them he would hire them, but even I could not find them.

Blacks are told to go for PASSION.... Not PAPER!!!!

3:14 We need to ADVOCATE NOT SHAME, for higher salaries in the social services field because we work with the most vulnerable populations.

Proud Of My Black Kings and Queens going To College

Simply put they go to school for what they can afford and are never encouraged to own businesses of their own.

I am majoring in mechanical engineering. I can't wait to graduate and contribute to black excellence.

How about starting your own busniess so you ain't gotta work for someone.

Stem just took off in the last 10 years. Then your told to do what you like. Then your told to go get that money. Then your told to live your life the way you want to. Then your told to do what I say. Which one is it dammit? Where are the high school counselors? How can you expect a 17 y.o. child to know the significance of those fields? However im hearing and seeing Engineering promoted much more in our communities. My 11 y.o. son has studied s.t.e.m fields since 1st grade. I told him he will be an engineer. Rather its in computer engineering or mechanical engineering thats what he will do. He can take up Political science and history in his spare time.

Exposure is key. We can be leaders, managers, executives, principal owners, engineers, scientists, professors, designers, etc. If you don't have one in your family...parents, grandparents,aunties & uncles...there are so many professional groups with programming and information available to give our kids exposure to what's typically not put in front of their faces. Textbooks, generally, especially currently, won't show the possibilities available to us. Sometimes the road may be trying and difficult, but if we want to move forward, despite the systematic stronghold placed on us, we have to enlarge our expectations for ourselves.

They’re Afraid of math.

We should not bash them but educate them..... it is a good thing our numbers are going up. But let's not bash the social service jobs, they are just like the tech jobs but not on a dame computer i.e. FB, Twiiter, IF etc. SOCIAL media. I say we have done very well for a group of people who have oppressed for years. Yes we need to encourage more STEM!! I AGREE!

Hey start your own business for less than 200.00 for the business licensing and llc. Take your knowledge and empower yourself

I'm going to school to be a history teacher is that a low earning job plus I'm a low-income student as well I start college in January

Let's not beat around the bush we all know there are certain majors and certain careers that are very difficult for black people to get into and that's probably why we tend to pick more Human Services jobs per se because if you become a physicist the likelihood of a company hiring a black physicist is very low and so we as blacks want to know that our hard work will result in a career that we can actually pursue and actually succeed in. Not that we couldn't succeed as a physicist but knowing that it's going to be challenging to actually get into a company that will allow us to pursue that career.

"As a teacher at a STEM high school, I've had the privilege of inspiring young minds with my background in applied mathematics and math education. As I prepare to pursue my doctorate, I've noticed a concerning trend - even our African American students in STEM schools often opt for non-STEM majors in college, prioritizing quicker and easier paths. However, I firmly believe that we must empower our youth to pursue STEM fields to secure high-paying career opportunities. If we promoted education, particularly STEM education, with the same enthusiasm and dedication we reserve for sports and entertainment, we would be unstoppable. It's crucial that we encourage and support our African American students to embrace STEM majors, unlocking their full potential and shaping a brighter future."

This is true. We don't tend to major in STEM fields. In my undergraduate class, at graduation (The Black graduation ceremony) only one received a math degree. I majored in psychology (we had about 3 of those, most were in communications) and now I'm working in the field. I went straight to graduate school and now have a masters. Love, Love the work but do want to earn more $$$! I have 2 children who love math and so will likely go into a STEM field. My son is majoring in architectural engineering in college now. He will probably make more that I do with a BS degree than I will with a doctorate.

Great discussion for today as well!!

Dont go unless you are really skilled at it w/e it is Its an uphill battle. Its weird being one of the few african american engineers everywhere I work.

Must take the hard classes. STEM all the way.

Thank you for addressing this!!!!

Don’t take career development advice from everyone, seek help for trained and certified career professionals!

4:39 The only accurate information in this video is to seek CAREER COUNSELING!!!!

It’s not that these folks don’t want to study STEM it’s bc STEM major are hard

Well, most of the students are still first generation college students, so they don’t receive good guidance or counseling from their mothers or the school system they graduated from. The students are picking majors by perceived difficulty of the field of study. Children who have professional parents mayor in high earning career paths. Also, who really conducts career guidance in public schools that reside in urban communities? Information is free and readily available. Why do Asians. Indians and Africans major in high earning field of study and we don’t as a collective?

1:39 False! There are many career assessments like the FOCUS2, STRONG INTEREST INVENTORY, & MBTI the college edition.

College is higher education, but not job education. My daughter would say she's going to college to get a job. No I'd say, your going to college to run your own business. While my son listen to the old man, went to trucking school at 21 and now at t age 27 has his second truck at 2100.00 a week and home every day. My daughter did 4yrs graduated run through 4 jobs got two babies then decided to have a career in nursing. After 60 thousand dollars of debt. She will never catch or surpass him. Just saying the abbreviation of the word job is( just over broke). Careers last forever.

but wait... we need black teachers and psychologicalists. The problem is paying ppl fairly not bunching all of blacks into the investment banking fields.

Go to Indeed & search for jobs that want to hire “LCMHC” Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselors. Those careers pay $53-$150 AN HOUR and you will have to earn a Master’s degree and obtain licensure. Counseling/Therapy is in the social services field (not S.T.E.M.)

Dna plays an important part in what you studies .so careful what you choose .

STEM STEM STEM or TRADES.

Your major matters.

Complain when they don't go complain when they do go

Smh...Majors & careers are not linear!

THAT WOULD BE ME

Here we go with slavery. I'm gone.

It all boils down to capitalism, which starts the next generation off where the last generation left off and if you're black that leaves you with very little to start of with. On the other hand white people start out with at least 87% of what they need to succeed. So it's more about what is left to you than what college or what major you choose. The way things look now, is that this problem will continue, and black people will not build any wealth in this country. A career will not gain you wealth, the only way to build wealth is to open and run businesses, look i have nothing against education, i mean we have some of the most well educated people in the world but we still can not accumulate any wealth, why? We have to stop trading education for liberation. I think group wealth will set us free, free from begging white people for what we need, free from settling for crumbs when we can have the whole cake.

Why does the tittle say “More blacks”😂😂

Can’t blame on racism there

Then why are Nigerian Americans are one of the highest earners of income?

I have two nieces who majored in PHARMACY AND ARCHITECTURE. They make good money.

I hate that Economics or Agriculture are NEVER mentioned. What about Finance and accounting, plenty of these majors are filled with African Americans. I am one of them, my undergrad is in Political/ Social Science and my Master's is in Ag Econ. Some people just don't fit in the hard science group- however there are applied math and science majors that would be just as interesting and earn just as much.

9:08 It’s good to have a job in mind, which change after coursework, internships, or informational interviews. Develop you and know YOUR SKILLS! Learn how to write an effective resume, network, practice interviewing skills!!! This is where college graduates are missing the mark!

By the way, many businesses used to have apprenticeship programs that went away because of high taxes. Our own government is killing skilled labor with over taxation. Those used to help minorities get skilled and through on the job training. With out of control taxation, they wen away. So stop talking about socialism and taxing businesses if you want jobs! Corporate America owns the government and loves the tax system. Force them to educate for the tax breaks instead of just making money. They don't give a damn about anything but their bottom line. Don't you think they can help educate? Of course they can! They did up until the 70s.

I’m not good at math or science nor am I interested in it, I’m going for my masters in social work. Y’all may shame me for that but I know what I want and unlike some of y’all I understand that if you’re willing to do whatever it takes to work in your degree field you’ll work it out. STEM majors don’t even guarantee success. You have to want the job more then the next person. You’re gonna have to compete regardless. Now I may go back for a trade or something but I’m not gonna be stuck doing something that I’m not interested in. But I currently don’t even have to work so I’m covered either way. Go to school for what YOU want to go for but make sure you’re super determined especially if it’s in a field ppl say you’ll fail in.

You can make 100k working in the trades, college is not required.

What about these paper tiger colleges , with the useless diploma

Oh look.... not taking responsibility again ..... rain is wet, moving on

THEY ARE PASSED BY AFFIRMATIVE ACTION

College degrees is for the service industry.hard work and education doesn't equal success for us.

Quite Clearly the Host of This Analysis explained and Pinpointed a very Crucial Element of The Long Standing Reality of The Black Condition.Unfortunately,the Panel what did any of them Distinguish? The god could delve deeper but would this make any difference? Yes,I am The god of The Air!

Nobody cares.