Reconstructing Reading for Students of Color

2022 ◽  
pp. 63-72
Author(s):  
Porchanee A. White
Keyword(s):  
African American ◽  
Students Of Color ◽  
Role Models ◽  
African American Students ◽  
Daily Basis ◽  
Black History ◽  
Learning Material ◽  
Classroom Learning ◽  
American Students

African American students face discrimination and inequalities in classroom settings on a daily basis. We often think of discrimination and inequality as something being done or said to someone in an inappropriate manner. However, classroom learning material and products should be considered as well. Curriculum, textbooks, and supplemental materials usually do not include information about black history, authors, or poetry. When they are included, they are often used as supplemental material that is not studied, examined, or discussed. In addition, the books they read in class or for pleasure do not necessarily have role models that resemble African American students.

Afrocentric Thought in Adult Education

2020 ◽  
pp. 175-198
Author(s):  
Parris J. Baker
Keyword(s):  
African American ◽  
Students Of Color ◽  
African American Students ◽  
Curriculum Planning ◽  
Adult Educators ◽  
American Education ◽  
Student Centered ◽  
American Students ◽  
History Of ◽  
Afrocentric Paradigm

The failure of the American education system to teach African American students has been well chronicled. This chapter draws attention to the history of Eurocentric pedagogy and its ineffectiveness to educate African American students. The principles of Afrocentricity are presented as a plausible way to counter ineffective, hegemonic, and ethnocentric curriculum planning for all students, with particular emphasis on students of color. Differentiated instruction offers adult educators a way to vary instruction and integrate an Afrocentric paradigm and content into student-centered curricula. This chapter concludes with two Afrocentric application activities.

[Re]conceptualizing Inclusion: Can Critical Race Theory and Interest Convergence be Utilized to Achieve Inclusion and Equity for African American Students?

2011 ◽  
Vol 113 (10) ◽  
pp. 2186-2205 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shelley Zion ◽  
Wanda Blanchett
Keyword(s):  
Social Justice ◽  
African American ◽  
Critical Race Theory ◽  
Inclusive Education ◽  
Students Of Color ◽  
African American Students ◽  
Critical Race ◽  
Race Theory ◽  
Interest Convergence ◽  
American Students

Background/Context Even though not fully realized, in legislation and theory, the requirements of the Individuals With Disabilities Education Improvement Act and the No Child Left Behind Act have created pressure to address the historical inequity in educational opportunity, achievement, and outcomes, as well as disparities in achievement between students of color and White students; disproportionality in special education referral, identification, and placement; high dropout rates for students of color; and disproportionate discipline and referrals for students of color, students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, students from immigrant families, and students in urban areas. Purpose/Objective/Research Question/Focus of Study The authors argue that inclusive education never had the potential to be truly inclusive because it is built on the premises of an inferiority paradigm. Issues of race, class, and privilege have rarely been incorporated into the inclusive education definitions or debates in the United States, and certainly not in practice. The purpose of this article is to examine: (a) the historical context of public schooling in America; (b) inclusive education in practice: segregation of African American and other students of color; (c) [re]conceptualizing inclusion: the importance of a social justice lens and critical theory; and (d) the relevance of interest convergence. Research Design Analytic essay. Conclusions/Recommendations The authors contend that the inclusive education movement has not resulted in positive outcomes or inclusion in general education for African American students because the movement was built on faulty assumptions that centered on ability and placement and did not look at the intersection of ability/disability with race, class, culture, and language. More important, the movement did not address issues of racism, White privilege, White dominance, and social class dominance. The authors assert that social justice, critical race theory, and interest convergence are powerful tools with which to [re]conceptualize inclusion and inclusive education in America.

I need to know my past: Black fifth-graders on race and racism

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 127-140
Author(s):  
Irenea Walker ◽  
William B. Russell
Keyword(s):  
African American ◽  
Charter School ◽  
African American Students ◽  
Black History ◽  
Fifth Grade ◽  
Student Work ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Fifth Grade Students ◽  
American Students ◽  
Self Worth

PurposeThis research study focuses on fifth-grade African American students who attend an all-Black charter school whose administration and teachers are committed to providing Black history instruction throughout the year. To fulfill the school's mission, the teachers integrate additional resources into the curriculum that includes lessons and activities about Black history. Therefore, the study sought to answer the following question: How does learning Black history throughout the school year impact African American fifth-grade students' self-esteem and positive self-image? The authors examined student work, conducted observations and listened as the participants engaged in critical discussions about race and racism.Design/methodology/approachWay to Go (WTG) is a K-12 public charter school located in an urban mid-size city in Florida, with a 100% Black student population; all WTG students receive scholarships and free lunch. The 15 participants in this study self-identified as African American fifth-grade students. The authors conducted a qualitative research study that included 13 observations, an analysis of five student work samples and a focus group interview with seven students. They used interpretative phenomenology to gather African American fifth-grade students' experiences and their interpretations of these experiences (Moustakas, 1994) while acquiring information about Black history.FindingsThe themes that emerged are it's time to go, unsung heroes and Black history is exciting. In the first theme, they learned why Blacks migrated from the South to northern cities and understood why it was time for them to go. Next, they explored the history of unsung Blacks who inspired them to think about a variety of careers to pursue. Finally, they were excited to learn Black history because they understood the importance of learning this history in order to grapple with current events, and they recognized that knowledge of this history would improve their self-worth and life choices.Originality/valueWTG charter school exemplifies what schools should attain for regarding the teaching of Black history. Since elementary school provides the foundation for learning, it is the best time to teach African American students about self-esteem and what it means to be proud of their Blackness. The fifth-graders in this study exemplified how African American students take pride in their history and have a positive sense of self-worth when taught Black history. Black history lessons and activities such as the ones utilized in WTG school will benefit African American students and contribute to their success as students.

Adaptation to college among African American students: The role of trauma and PTSD

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guler Boyraz ◽  
Sharon G. Horne ◽  
Archandria C. Owens ◽  
Aisha P. Armstrong
Keyword(s):  
African American ◽  
African American Students ◽  
American Students ◽  
Adaptation To College
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