Dear Commons Community,

The New York Times has started an online debate based on the question of why so many young black men are not succeeding in our society.  The introduction says it all:

“The news for young black men is not good: they are disproportionately singled out for discipline in school, they are more likely to be stopped and frisked by New York City police officers, and according to Michelle Alexander in her book, “The New Jim Crow,” nearly one-third of black men are likely to spend time in prison at some point in their lives.

Would pulling back on draconian drug laws or legalizing marijuana be enough to fix this imbalance? What else needs to be done?”

Several insightful opinions have already been expressed:  spend more on schooling,  reform the juvenile justice system,  family support.

Weigh in!!!

Tony