Exploring Black Male Initiative Programs: Potential and Possibilities for Supporting Black Male Success in College

Abstract

Abstract:This multisite study explored the role of a Black Male Initiative (BMI) program on Black male students’ college experiences across three separate campuses. Strayhorn’s sense of belonging and Yosso’s community cultural wealth models were employed as a theoretical frame to investigate how the participants made meaning from their engagement. The findings suggest that the BMI program enhanced the students’ sense of mattering and belonging on campus through helping them access sociocultural capital, providing holistic support, focusing on Black male identities, and engendering students’ persistence. The author argues that the students’ narratives highlight the potential and possibilities for supporting Black male success through BMI-type programs.