Those graduation rates are deceptive. Even if the black graduation rate is 55%, many of those kids get to college and are seriously deficient in math and English language skills. I’d estimate that only about 60% of those on that 55% are functionally literate, so that means that less than one third of black students who were supposed to graduate this past spring are actually equipped to be productive members of society. Many of these people are not looking for jobs, so while the official black unemployment rate may be at 16%, their unemployable rate is probably near 35%, and going up every year.
When I was going through college on the GI Bill and several part time jobs I landed a job for the college (federal money of course) as a remedial English language tutor for freshmen. I had a group of about 2 dozen at a Community Center in the darkest part of the city from 7 - 10 PM three nights a week. I was the only white for blocks and blocks in any direction and there was open hostility on the part of some in the class. Let me tell you - I was very uncomfortable leaving when the class was over.
At my first class I was dumbstruck by how totally ignorant and illiterate they all were. I worked hard to help them at least grasp the basics well enough to communicate in class and do entry level lessons but few had any interest in improving their skills.
By the end of the term most never even bothered to show up and I was surprised if more than three or four attended.
But the biggest shock came when I found out they were being paid to attend. In fact, they were paid as much to attend as I was paid to tutor them!