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From Good To Great To “Ghetto”
Thomas Sowell, an alum of Dunbar High, is a renowned American economist, social theorist, and political commentator known for his influential work in economic history, race relations, and public policy. Raised in Harlem, New York, Sowell overcame early hardships to earn degrees from Harvard (BA), Columbia (MA), and the University of Chicago (PhD), where he studied under Milton Friedman. Sowell has written more than 40 books, including Basic Economics, A Conflict of Visions, and The Vision of the Anointed, which explore themes of economic reasoning, ideological frameworks, and social justice. His work often challenges conventional wisdom and emphasizes empirical evidence over popular narratives.
Paul Laurence Dunbar High School in Washington, D.C., opened in 1870 as the nation’s first public high school for African American students and became a beacon of academic excellence during the era of segregation. It attracted top Black talent from across the city and beyond, boasting a faculty with advanced degrees (including PhDs) and producing generations of trailblazers. By the mid-20th century, about 80% of graduates attended college, far outpacing national averages for Black students at the time. Alums included blood plasma pioneer Charles R. Drew, civil rights lawyer Charles Hamilton Houston (mentor to Thurgood Marshall), and the first Black federal judge, William H. Hastie. The school routinely outperformed many white institutions on standardized tests, ranking higher than two out of three D.C. white high schools in 1899 assessments.
Dunbar’s Decline Correlates with the National Decline of Two-Parent Black Households
Today, Dunbar ranks near the bottom academically, with average SAT (950) and ACT (21) scores suggesting modest college readiness. Overall proficiency remains critically low despite a $122 million rebuild in 2013.
Two-parent households were the dominant structure for African American families from the late 19th century through the mid-20th century, with married households comprising the majority until around 1960.
- In 1970, 64% of adult African Americans were married, but this dropped sharply to 33% by 2019.
- Single-parent households, particularly those headed by mothers, remained stable until 1960 before rising dramatically.
- Out-of-wedlock births among Black children increased from around 68% in 1991 to 72% in 2011, stabilizing around 69-77% in recent years.
- Cultural shifts toward “entitlement” and welfare dependency in poverty subcultures—often linked to single-parent dynamics—made replicating Dunbar’s past performance impossible.
Historical disruptions trace back to 1960s welfare policies (e.g., “Man-in-the-House” rules that discouraged two-parent eligibility for benefits), accelerating the decline in two-parent homes.
Dunbar’s peak academic era (1870-1955) aligned with higher two-parent prevalence, while its decline began after the 1954 desegregation, coinciding with the onset of these family structure shifts in the 1960s. By the 1960s-1970s, as Dunbar transitioned to a neighborhood school in a deteriorating, high-poverty area (Truxton Circle), rising single-parent rates contributed to a student body facing more home-based challenges.
Impact: The Decline of Two-Parent Households
Children in single-parent households often face worse academic outcomes, including lower GPAs, higher dropout rates, reduced school retention, and increased behavioral issues, due to economic stress, less supervision, and unstable environments. Higher parental earnings and stability in two-parent homes correlate with better child brain development, language skills, and overall achievement.
Dunbar’s Past Performance Proves Excellence Is Possible
If we want better children, we must become better adults. If we want stronger communities, we must first strengthen ourselves.
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I am a proud nerd (as my beautiful wife and daughter have told me) investment and finance blogger with an NC. State, Chemical Engineering, University Rutgers, MBA and Harvard University, Advanced Management education.
I left a corporate career because I desired to make a difference as a speaker and writer. I was blessed to be coached and mentored by strong women and men in my family and professional life. It is my time to serve and give back.
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I started my first business at ~13 years of age (a small but brilliantly created plant nursery). I am a successful investor in stocks, options, and real estate and am happy to share my finance and investment lessons. I am NOT a licensed financial advisor. Please do not construe my suggestions on this blog as recommendations for your situation. As an investor, you must establish your risk/loss tolerance. Investment in any asset involves risk, including complete loss.
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I write this weekly blog to make an impact by reaching an audience and demonstrating the need for financial literacy. I will help you get there.