Tallahassee, Fla. (WTXL)--"Black Lives Matter" an International movement, campaigns against violence towards African Americans but "Black Brains Matter", a simple play on words targets disparities in education within the black community. Just like the Black Lives Matter Movement, organizers say it is a matter of life and death.
"We don't think about the fact that if you don't have a high school education, it takes nine years off your life", Dr. Joseph Webster Sr explains.
Though Leon County fairs pretty well as a grade A school system, organizers say that young black students are still falling through the cracks when it comes to getting the education they need.
"Black males in particular in Leon County graduate at a rate where white guys were graduating ten years ago. So we're ten years behind and about 20 percentage points behind. So relatively speaking, the district received an "A" but black boys received a "D", says Webster.
So while many people think the issue starts here in the classroom, Black Brains Matter say it's the trickle-down theory.
"It's a political problem more than an educational problem. Our policy makers don't really understand that the accountability system puts all the accountability on the schools and none on them" Dr. Pedro Noguera.
The Black Brains Matter conference continues Saturday.
