THE NEED FOR MULTI-MEDIA & ARTS EDUCATION FOR BLACK YOUTH

-African American youth are more likely than white youth to be attracted to TV and have a TV and another form of media resource in their bedrooms (KFF, 2005)

-74% of Black families have the TV on during family meals, 15% of white families have the TV on during family meals (KFF, 2005)

-Responsible and positive male role models exist but are not emphasized in the media (Boles, 2007)

-Media Literacy develops critical thinkers and critical viewers (Thoman, 2003)

-Arts Ed w/ Multi-Media Technology engages youth to participate in rigorous curricula and also instills peer encouragement, perseverance, self-discipline and focus (Camerilie & Jackson, 2004)

-The skill of media analysis has also been found to increase reading comprehension (Hobbs & Frost)