Society's ability to collectively address global challenges will require efforts to include diverse voices, perspectives, and epistemologies. Building on critical design, which positions these challenges as requiring changes in our values and beliefs, we examine the nature and potential of a critical constructionist design framework within an…

Findings from a 1.5 year study of black adolescent mathematics students attending an African-centered school in the US are used to highlight the benefits of separate schooling for this population of students. Critical race theory is used to frame a dialogue surrounding the ways in which this type of school environment and embedded racialized…

Ethnic socialization and racial socialization were examined as discrete concepts using a semistructured interview to assess message content for each form of socialization. We were interested in whether adolescents distinguished between these forms of socialization. Fifty-five African American 11th- and 12th-grade students were asked separate…

Current research suggests that it is imperative for researchers and educators to pay more attention to the needs of African American adolescent girls and how their race and gender affect schooling (Fordham, 1993; Morris, 2007). The purpose of this study was to highlight the lived experiences of two African American adolescent girls when they used…

We examine whether the "acting white" labeling practice and subsequent peer isolation exist (or do not exist) within Somali immigrant adolescents, one of the most underresearched black immigrant student groups, and what school contexts are associated with their presence (or absence). Using a case study, we found that high-achieving…

Research examining the association between body image and sexual risk-taking has been mostly limited to clinical and/or White female samples. It is unclear whether body image plays a role in sexual risk-taking among African American early adolescent females. Moreover, research has neglected to consider body image within a cultural and ethnic…

Racial identity attitudes, a construct proposed as a measure of the world view of Blacks (Cross & Vandiver, 2001), and academic performance of a group of Black females attending a high-poverty, failing high school with a 42% graduation rate were examined. These young women were either pregnant or parenting and attended a parenting support group at…

Examined characteristics of 12 substance abuse prevention programs serving African American youth. Findings indicated that African American youth exhibited lower use rates than most other ethnic groups, but by age 16-18 years, use was prevalent. Africentric principles and themes integrated into the prevention programs contributed to higher rates…

African-American adolescents have lower rates of alcohol consumption than White youth. However, African-American youth suffer disproportionately more adverse social, mental, and physical health outcomes related to alcohol use. Affiliating with negative peers is a risk factor for alcohol initiation and consumption. Cultural variables have shown…

Examined relationships between dimensions of collective self-esteem and Africultural coping styles among African American adolescents. Surveys of African American students at a predominantly white high school indicated that respondents with higher public collective self-esteem reported greater use of spiritual-centered Africultural coping styles…

The primary purpose of this study was to test a path model exploring the relationships among Africentric cultural values, self-esteem, perceived social support satisfaction, and life satisfaction in a sample of 147 African American adolescent girls. This investigation also examined the possible mediating effects of self-esteem and perceived social…

Describes a school-based, Afrocentric program that prepares African American males to use the educational opportunities available to them. Discusses the program's theoretical premises and offers a report on program effectiveness. Looks at cultural issues, methodology, program design, and outlines the importance of this type of program. (RJM)

Examines the health status of African American male adolescents, noting that their leading health problems are preventable. Discusses two frameworks that are of value in social work practice with this population, and examines cultural competence and empowerment. Reviews Afrocentric theory and social work, and outlines an Afrocentric program. (RJM)

The cultural compatibility hypothesis suggests that black children attending an Afrocentric school (the culturally compatible condition) should have more positive outcomes, as indicated by ethnic identity, future expectations, and optimism, than black adolescents in a mainstream school (cultural incompatibility condition). Adolescents from an…

Describes and evaluates an adolescent health promotion program that uses the Nguzo Saba and African philosophy to address violence and attitudes that reinforce the use of violence. Results from public housing adolescent reports indicate that the Nguzo Saba had a strong, positive influence resulting in fewer delinquent/violent acts. (GR)