This project is an exploratory case study that assesses the degree to which Black male college graduates (BMCs) and Black males who have been released from jail or prison (BMRs) identify with the Kwanzaa principles. BMCs and BMRs face many socio-economic risk factors (SERs) which are related to their college graduation rate and their involvement in the criminal justice system (Carnoy, 1994; Gibbs, 1988; Noguera, 2003; Streeter, 2001). Afrocentric theorists have concluded that Afrocentric values like Umoja (unity), Ujima (collective work and responsibility), and Ujamma (economic cooperation), are a reference group that help to reduce the effect of SERs (Asante, 1980; Bishop, 2002; Crouch, 1996; Harris, 2005; Horton, 2003; Karenga, 1988; Mazama, 2002; Oliver, 1987; Reviere, 2001; Winbush, 2001; Winters, 1994).

Twenty-five BMCs and twenty-five BMRs (N=50) participate in a quantitative and qualitative interview; and two BMCs and eight BMRs participate in a focus group that assesses their SERs and their identification with three Kwanzaa principles. An analysis of the interviews and focus groups reveals that BMCs and BMRs face many SERs. BMCs and BMRs do not differ significantly in SERs. A thematic coding method reveals that BMCs and BMRs differ significantly on the unity construct (x²=3.947, p<.05) but do not differ on the collective work and responsibility (x²=.00, p>.05) and economic cooperation constructs (x²=2.053, p>.05). This project explores the use of Afrocentric theory and implications for future research to compare Black males.