The oft-repeated claim that more African American men and boys are in the prison system than are in college is an exaggeration, but only a slight one. From kindergarten to high school, too many African American boys are failing and being failed. The result is another generation lost and the continuation of a persistent underclass.

Bill Cosby and others have railed about the anti-intellectual, hip-hop culture that accommodates and even perpetuates the problems of drug use, abuse, violence and misogyny.  Meanwhile, Black History Month is supposed to be a time to recognize the accomplishments of African Americans, but has over time become a rote and dry observance.  This clip of Larry Wilmore on The Daily Show makes that point brilliantly.

For the last year in Florida, a state task force formed by the legislature and the governor are actually trying to do something to solve these problems.  The Council on the Social Status of  Black Men and Boys has just released their first annual report. State Representative, Frank Peterman of St. Petersburg is a  founding member of the task force. He's my guest and that's what we're talking about on Flashpoint. This Sunday Morning at 11:00