The purpose of this study was to analyze the narratives constructed by urban youth in a summer program for future educators of color. In particular, we asked, "In what ways do students use texts to create counternarratives of urban education?" Utilizing visual counternarratives and counterstorytelling as theoretical frames, and through…

This article revisits the central impulse behind early advocacy for ethnographic approaches to hip hop--that critics should try as much as possible to limit their own certainties around what hip hop can and might mean. While ethnographic approaches can engender the kinds of personal dislocations that allow for this negotiation, they do not…

This article reviews the social justice youth development (SJYD) model conceptualized to facilitate and enhance urban youth awareness of their personal potential, community responsibility, and broader humanity. The SJYD requires the healing of youth identities by involving them in social justice activities that counter oppressive conditions…

Collaboration (GDMC), an informal education program in 3D computer modeling and 2D interactive game design serving primarily African American youth aged 7 to 19 years in the Washington, D.C. metro area, transformed from a program designed and taught by adults to one designed and taught by youth. In Year 1, 8% of youth participants held a…

Provides a qualitative description of the narrated life experiences of 11 African American intellectual-activists with regard to the major vehicles of overt expression of blackness, hair, clothing, and names. Implications for the productive use of blackness and black self-concept, especially for children, are discussed. (SLD)

Describes the key features of a new and unconventional teacher preparation program intended to provide urban minority students with skills and incentive to be educators. Discusses how the success of the program will be evaluated. Describes the Urban Teacher Program in Michigan, a collaboration among two school districts and three colleges. (JS)

This article seeks to locate hip-hop in the realm of popular culture in education. Through the use of song lyrics, the author suggests the use of rap music to provide context for the humanities and social sciences in secondary curriculum. Using a theoretical and practical lens, the article argues for the use of hip-hop and other elements of…

Detailed text analysis was used to examine the expository writing patterns of four academically successful African American high school students. These bidialectic students brought culturally influenced text design patterns into the classroom. Implications for writing instruction for culturally diverse students are discussed. (SLD)

Reviews the educational experiences of 106 children and adolescents who appeared in juvenile court either as status offenders or delinquents. Concludes that poor academic performance, low self-esteem, and low school participation may be connected to antisocial and delinquent behavior. (FMW)