NEW YORK (AP)—A catastrophic flood emptied New Orleans of much of its Black youth. Powerful social forces may be doing a similar thing to places like Harlem and Chicago's South Side.

Over the past decade, the inner-city neighborhoods that have served for generations as citadels of African-American life and culture have been steadily draining of Black children.

DECLINING?CHILD?POPULATION—Michelle Black, left, and James Patterson watch their son James, 4, center, play during a visit to Renaissance Park in Harlem, N.Y., on June 28. The park sits in an area where census tract 232 data has noted a 38 percent drop in the population of Black children over the past 10 years. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)

July 9

1863—Eight Black regiments play a major role as Union troops capture Port Hudson in Louisiana. They had laid siege to the Confederate fortress since May 23. The victory, along with the July 4 capture of Vicksburg, Miss., gave U.S. forces control of the Mississippi River, cut the Confederate army in half and laid the foundation for ending the Civil War. The Civil war would drag on for another two years but the Confederate troops fighting to maintain slavery were never able to recover from the loss of Port Hudson.

(REAL TIMES NEWS SERVICE)—Chicago’s Drake Hotel grand ballroom was crowded and buzzing with anticipation June 24.

Representatives from Black publications all over the country and other news organizations hoping to report on controversy, gathered at the National Newspaper Publishers Association’s annual convention for what they thought would be a spirited discussion between Princeton University professor, motivational speaker and Black philanthropist, Cornel West, Ph.D, and civil rights leader and activist, Rev. Al Sharpton about the state of Black America.

DIFFERING OPINIONS—Dr. Cornel West, left, and Rev. Sharpton embrace during a discussion of the Obama administration and the plight of the Black community at the National Newspaper Publishers Association’s 2011 Annual Convention in Chicago. (Final Call Photo/Richard B. Muhammad)

Autum Ashante, a shockingly bright Brooklyn, N.Y., girl, is outpacing her peers in education, the arts and sports. This fall, she will reportedly become a student at the University of Connecticut at 13—about five years younger than the average incoming freshman.

According to the New York Daily News, she will study medicine at the massive six-campus school, which educates roughly 30,000 students.

AUTUM ASHANTE

In an interview with the New York Daily News, Autum’s father, Batin Ashante, said his daughter’s early college entrance is remarkable, but more importantly sets the tone for other children of color.

“What she’s doing is groundbreaking but this is not about vanity,” the single father said. “It’s about setting the tone for other Black and Latino children who will come behind her. They’re always being told they are underachievers. We want to show this can be done.”