College Knowledge Is Power: Supporting the Postsecondary Aspirations of Black Male Ninth Graders

Research on young Black men often emanates from pathologizing deficit orientations. Using the High School Longitudinal Survey of 2009 (HSLS: 09), we analyze the postsecondary aspirations of ninth-grade Black men, examining them in light of their college knowledge and interactions with school counselors. We find that the aspirations of these students are high; however, their college knowl-edge is limited as well as their access to those persons often designated to support college choice processes-school counselors. Young Black men who talk to their school counselors about college are more likely to talk to their counselors about courses, careers, and personal prob-lems. Implications for school-based policy and practice are addressed.