This study of six young urban African American men, all in grades 10 or 11 at the time of the study, examined their experiences and the meanings they constructed of the high school diploma, their experiences in classrooms, and their relationships with family members and peers. The perspectives of these young men point to the importance of…

This social skills curriculum has been developed as a guide to assist educators in instructing young African-American males how to determine what behaviors are acceptable and what are not acceptable in our society. Parents and other family members will also find these strategies useful for followup activities. The book does not address all…

Project EXCEL, developed from a 2-year pilot study, provided college enrichment in reading, writing, and foreign languages for rising sophomores and sophomores in two inner-city high schools. One school had a predominantly black student body; the other had a student body that was 40% black. This study focused on the sources of equality and…

This study examines the larger realities of African-American males and analyses the theoretical contexts of educational practices in alternative education schools and programs for African-American males. Chapter 1 provides an overview of the crises African Americans face and introduces the concepts of black all-male academies and the nature of…

"The Autobiography of Malcolm X" continues to sell and to be read by Americans of all ethnic backgrounds, but for African American youth it has special meaning and can be seen as providing a powerful argument in favor of becoming literate. The selections in this collection explore teaching about Malcolm X and give educators the tools…

The dropout rate is one of the most critical issues that Canadian educators face. Based on a 3-year study in the greater Toronto area, this book established a new frame of reference for understanding the dropout dilemma. This book suggests that race, class, gender, and other forms of social difference can affect how education is delivered. For…

This book has been designed to provide teachers of kindergarten through grade 12 with techniques and approaches for helping their African American students achieve in school. It presents a planned approach to four major initiatives: (1) to restructure the instruction and behaviors practiced in most classrooms today; (2) to provide teachers with…

Concepts in this book are presented to help parents and teachers help students create a positive vision of themselves and their abilities. The first section explores the idea of institutional racism and how it affects the mind sets of people charged with educating young people, specifically African American youth. Instrumental methods designed to…

Case studies of two urban adolescents interviewed over 3 years of high school show the complexities of life in the city for minority students and demonstrate the importance of supportive relationships in their lives. The chapters are: (1) "Interpreting Narratives"; (2) "A Study of Urban Youth"; (3) "Malcolm's Story"; (4) "Voice and Silence"; (5)…

Through naturalistic inquiry, the study reported in this book sought to determine the inner qualities that compel some black males to persist and overcome adversity, while others of their socioeconomic class quit and fail. The research was designed to identify the factors that led to the successful achievement of African American male students at…

This study of six urban children ages 8-12 years challenges the prevailing misconception that poor city children are troubled, passive, and unintelligent. The research involved interviewing children about how and what they played and having them discuss drawings that they made about play. Guided by these children, who live in New York's East…

This book examines a long-running voluntary desegregation program in Boston as a model of the long-range benefits and present-day challenges of integrating America's schools. The book presents interviews with program participants who are now adults and recounts their struggles and achievements. It explores the ways in which the Metropolitan…

Several years ago the author began visiting a number of families and children in the poor black section of Boston called Roxbury. But unlike many social scientists studying poverty in recent years, he listened--in particular to the thoughts, hopes, fears, and dreams of two fifth graders--William D. Williams and Adrien Keller. Here these two black…

This book examines the ways in which teachers' ideologies or belief systems about African American students interfere with the goals and aims of school restructuring. By following the progress of school restructuring in two junior high schools in a southern city fictitiously called Riverton, it explores the intersection of the failure of schools…

This booklet provides some guidelines for preparing African American students for college. Parents' experiences with higher education are a key to shaping their expectations for their children, and the lack of direct parental experience can be a handicap for students who will be the first generation of their families to attend college. Educators…