This background paper focuses on the status of black male students in higher education in the U.S. It examines public flagship universities in each of the 50 states, providing stark evidence of racial disparities in public higher education, particularly for black males. Its statistical analysis of college access, graduation rates, degree attainment, and black student athletes illustrates the extent of these disparities across the nation and “the need to strengthen the social contract between public institutions of higher education and black male citizens” through various reforms.