Notes that, in objective indicators of academic achievement, African American children have not achieved parity with whites. Examines Black Cultural Learning Styles (BCLS) hypothesis that widespread failure of many black children can be attributed to culturally determined African-based learning styles that clash with Eurocentric configuration of…

Responds to arguments in Hale's and Richardson's rebuttals to "One Giant Step Backward: Myths of Black Cultural Learning Styles" (Frisby, this issue). Contends that neither Hale nor Richardson presents substantive data refuting main evidence discussed in original article. Analyzes their comments within framework of five reasons why Black Cultural…

Desegregation, multiculturalism, and Afrocentrism have sought to shape the self-perceptions of African-American students. Research findings imply that some African-American children already have adequate self-esteem despite low academic achievement. Although important, development of ethnic identity should be subordinate to academic excellence and…