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Black Parents Help Sons To Keep Eyes On The Prize

There is a huge achievement gap between black students and white students across the United States.  Black students consistently lag behind their white classmates on standardized tests.

According to a Washington Post article,Black Parents Seek to Raise Ambition, in affluent Loudoun County, known for its strong schools, black students consistently lag behind their white classmates on standardized tests. Last year, 63 percent of black eighth-graders in the county passed the state math test; 62 percent passed in English. White students' pass rate for both subjects was 89 percent. At Eagle Ridge Middle School, where 8 percent of students are black, the gaps were similar.

About Black 15 familes, including the parents of nearly every 6th grade black male of Eagle Ridge Middle School in Loudon county have taken their sons' academic futures into their own hands by forming a club.  The mission of the club is to push their sons to graduate from high school on time without lowering their expectations or test scores along the way. They call it Club 2012.

The group holds monthly house meetings, twice-weekly homework sessions, "rap sessions" between fathers and sons, and social or community service activities. The parents speak often with teachers and administrators, many of whom come to parent-organized events.

Study Shows Liquids Help to Pack Em' On

Liquids make up 22 percent of American diet

Need to loose a few pounds or even more? You've got to start thinking about more than just what you eat, a beverage industry survey said on Monday.

According to a study, commissioned by the Milk Processor Education Program, and reported in Reuters, liquids make up 22 percent of calories in the average American's diet.

Most us us only count the calories we get from solid foods.

People just may not be aware how these calories are sneaking into their diet .. and (they are) not understanding what an impact it has on body weight," said Carolyn O'Neil, a dietitian, who is serving as a spokeswoman for the What America Drinks report.

Americans drink a daily average of 38 ounces (0.67 liters) of water, which contains no calories. Next on the list, are 

Say It Ain't So - Minority Hiring in Financial Markets

Minority Hiring in Financial Markets

On Wall Street they say that they have made diversity a top priority. Yet, data indicates that it may take several more years before women and minorities gain a foothold in the ranks of senior management.

That forecast comes from industry experts, investment bank diversity chiefs and trends in hiring data.

According to the article minorities and women continue to be squeezed in Wall Street's promotion pipeline when it comes to attaining senior positions -- those at the managing director level and above that reaped multimillion-dollar bonuses this year.

"The numbers indicate the squeeze is real," said Subha Barry, head of diversity at Merrill Lynch & Co..

On an upbeat note, Barry said she would be surprised if Merrill Lynch's diversity in the middle to senior management ranks doesn't mirror in five years the composition of the company's board of directors. Its board includes several women and minorities, including Chairman Stan O'Neal, who is black.

In the past four years, Merrill Lynch's entry-level hires for diversity "are 100 percent better," she said.

"The top and the bottom have to meet. The middle is where the work has to be done," Barry said.