The Dangerous Intersection between Race, Class and Stand Your Ground

The Stand Your Ground (SYG) law has and will likely continue to generate a wealth of controversy and political debate. It derives its historical significance from the Castle doctrine that allows citizens to protect themselves. The aftermath of SYG has led to an increase in justifiable homicides of minority victims. A preliminary analysis of data from FBI Uniform Crime Reports suggests that the race of the victim is the foremost determinant in the outcome of SYG cases where the perpetrator is non-minority. This research will further explore the Castle doctrine and examine SYG laws in Florida where racial tension is a challenge to determine if there has been an increase in the death of persons of color, especially Black male youths since the law’s enactment. Finally, it will use policy analysis methodology to identify the problem, underlying assumptions, implementation structure, rationales, and to forecast the policy implications of the law

Historically Black Colleges and Universities: Sustaining a Culture of Excellence in the 21st Century

Historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) continue to provide a substantial role in the black community and in higher education by providing a culture of excellence. Yet, their role in higher education is the center of many academic and political debates. Defining this role has been thwarted with questions of HBCUs relevance in society, in the African American community, and in higher education. The relevance of HBCUs is neither the dilemma nor the question for higher education and HBCUs. The conundrum for HBCUs is ensuring that they are equipped with the necessary tools to address global and economic 21st century challenges. The purpose of this article is to examine existing challenges that contribute to HBCUs struggles in the 21st century in sustaining their culture of excellence. This article highlights how HBCUs are able to address challenges of accreditation, funding, and HBCU’s leadership and management in the face of global and economic challenges