SlideShare una empresa de Scribd logo
1 de 6
Descargar para leer sin conexión
D’Shai L. Hendricks
Race and Education Lecture Series
Arnetha Ball & Cheryl Brown
March 16, 2012
The African American Child in Education: The Future Plessy v. Ferguson
With news regarding the success of Urban Prep Academy in Chicago, IL, over the
last few years, the topic of educating African American male students has been a hot
topic in the media and education in general. Urban Prep Academy, an all-male charter
school founded in 2006 in Chicago, succeeded in having every member of its graduating
senior class accepted into a four-year college/university for the past two years. This
phenomenon of African American male success in high school graduation and college
acceptance is not a common one, though, which leads one to question why that is. What
is the solution to solving this problem of African-American underachievement, especially
in black boys? What is preventing the vast majority of these individuals from achieving
the accomplishment that the boys at Urban Prep Academy continue to reach? The
knowledge gained from this class led me to try to understand whether African American
teachers contribute to the academic achievement of African American urban male
students, both pedagogically and socially. In “Doing Race,” the authors state, “The
question, then, is not whether we should deal with difference, but rather how we address
the differences we encounter,” and ensuring that the persons teaching our children are the
best for the job is a key way to address these differences.
Many guests touched upon this aspect of education in their lectures and wrestled
with the idea of black students’ underachievement and why it exists. Moreover, they all
looked into teachers and teaching as an avenue that has significant impact on the
performance of young black men and women. In his book, “An African Centered
Response to Ruby Payne’s Poverty Theory,” Dr. Jawanza Kunjufu explicitly states,
“…Two consecutive years of an ineffective teacher could destroy a child for life.”
Kunjufu goes on to discuss how low-income black and Hispanic neighborhoods receive
poor teachers, causing their students to fall behind tremendously in the coming years. If
the teacher is ineffective, there is no hope or projection for our black students: “Good
teachers cost more, but ineffective teachers cost the most.” He even references the fact
that white women are controlling the future of our race in that they represent 83% of
elementary school teachers while black men represent a mere 1%: “The future of the
black race lies in the hands of white female teachers.” This must change in order for the
achievement of our children to change. Dr. Na’ilah Nasir, in her research, looks more
deeply into the stereotypes, identities, and psychological struggles within African
American students, but she also acknowledges the lack of qualified and effective teachers
for our children. She states, “Teachers in such schools are less likely to be credentialed,
are newer to the profession, and are more likely to teach by ‘drill-and-kill’ methods.”
Paula Moya and Hazel Markus support this idea in saying, “Study after study show that
underperforming students are taught by teachers who have not received the highest
quality training and who do not have access to the best curricular materials.” Even
Professor M.K. Asante argues that current teaching/schooling is not enough for our
African American students, in his story about “Two Sets of Notes.” He clearly states that
there is a problem with how African American students are being taught right now, but
the key to fixing it lies in understanding that “When you make an observation, you have
an obligation.” Professor Asante and Dr. Patrick Camagian hint that African American
teachers are very effective, if not the most effective, when it comes to teaching African
American students, and I believe that this is a key solution to the underachievement of
our youth.
From previous research on the subject, we have a lot of relevant information in
regards to African American teachers’ influence on African American male student
achievement. First off, we see from Michele Foster’s research in 1995 that African
American teachers have an effect on African American students’ achievement. Foster
sought out to answer the question of who are the best African American teachers of
African American children, why they do what they do, and how they are so successful in
doing it by interviewing several successful African American teachers. In her
phenomenological experiment, she found that older teachers, 45-85 years old, who held
an African American ethos that informed their teaching pedagogies in some ways, felt
compelled to encompass other aspects of the black students’ lives, and were proficient in
the community norms of their students were the best teachers of black students. And of
course, the teachers with these qualities were all African American. We see evidence of
cultural understanding within African American teachers impacting their pedagogical
performance and student achievement in Dr. Arnetha Ball’s qualitative research as well.
Ball concludes, through an ethnography of three black women at community-based
organizations and programs, that cultural and linguistic capital are essential for teachers
to effectively teach African American students. Ball’s research gave us a closer look at
what African American teachers possessed and utilized pedagogically that influenced
their success with black students.
After accepting the fact that African American teachers have a positive impact on
African American students, we were then forced to look at why that is. In 2001, Tyrone
Howard provided us with some grounded theory research in this area. Through
interviews, field notes, classroom observations, etc., he was able to conclude that the
successful African American female teachers that he followed all utilized culturally
relevant pedagogies and the ideology that teaching requires more than just focusing on
the academic achievement of students in order to educate them. Like Arnetha Ball,
Howard also allowed us to see that even though they all have similar ideologies and goals
from being African American teachers, the different strategies and implementations come
from their own personal experiences and strengths as individuals. In other words, the
pedagogical approaches vary from black teacher to black teacher, but the mindsets, goals,
and expectations remain the same among them. We see a similar conclusion with
Anthony Brown’s research in observing African American male teachers with African
American male students.
This topic brings up some very interesting ethical dilemmas for American society,
government, and education reform activists to deal with. With the conclusion that African
American male students will succeed more and better in schools with African American
teachers, the next step should and would be to try to ensure that these two groups are
together. With this, though, it seems like there might have to be some sort of “separate
but equal” clause being made in order to push this into action. In regards to the black
community, however, these words cause very skeptical, unconvinced and harshly glaring
eyes at the picture. Do we have to make schools just for black students and teachers? Will
the government provide the funding for it? Will they actually be equal? How will they
recruit more African American teachers? Will it be an easier process? All of these
questions arise when trying to think further than the question at hand, but this shouldn’t
stop us from handling the issue. The fact that this conclusion may cause conflict does not
mean that we should stray away from it. Furthermore, in order to equal opportunity and
equal education to be truly present, this will have to be pursued in some way, shape, or
form. With a true understanding and conclusion of the significance of African American
teachers teaching African American male students, who are failing in the education
system far more than other groups, we can then take necessary action to improve the
system. The impact this will have on our nation is not even comprehensible, and the
impact this will have on my community is even greater.
Bibliography
Asante, M.K. It’s Bigger Than Hip Hop: The Rise of the Post Hip Hop Generation. New
York: St. Martin’s Press, 2008. Print.
Ball, Arnetha F. (2000). Empowering Pedagogies that Enhance the Learning of
Multicultural Students. Teachers College Record, 102(6), pp. 1006-10034.
Brown, Anthony L. (2009). "Brothers Gonna Work It Out:" Understanding the Pedagogic
Performance of African American Male Teachers Working with African American Male
Students. Urban Review: Issues and Ideas in Public Education, 41(5), pp.416-435.
Foster, Michele. (1993). Educating for Competence in Community and Culture:
Exploring the Views of Exemplary African-American Teachers. Urban Education, 27(4),
pp. 370-394.
Hess, Frederick M. & Leal, David L. (1997). Minority Teachers, Minority Students, and
College Matriculation: A New Look at the Role-Modeling Hypothesis. Policy Studies
Journal, 25(2), pp. 235-248.
Howard, Tyrone C. (2001). Powerful Pedagogy for African American Students: A Case
of Four Teachers. Urban Education, 36(2), pp. 179-202.
Kunjufu, Jawanza. An African Centered Response to Ruby Payne’s Poverty Theory.
Chicago, IL: African American Images, 2006. Print.
Moya, Paula M.L., and Hazel Rose Markus. Doing Race: 21 Essays For the 21st Century.
New York: W.W. Norton & Co., 2010. Print.
Nasir, Na’ilah. Racialized Identities: Race and Achievement Among African American
Youth. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press, 2011. Print.

Más contenido relacionado

La actualidad más candente

Educating Girls Annotated Bibliography
Educating Girls Annotated BibliographyEducating Girls Annotated Bibliography
Educating Girls Annotated BibliographyAnne Hagstrom
 
Miller_Pazia_Thesis_Final-Pazia
Miller_Pazia_Thesis_Final-PaziaMiller_Pazia_Thesis_Final-Pazia
Miller_Pazia_Thesis_Final-PaziaPazia Miller
 
Closing the achievement gap
Closing the achievement gapClosing the achievement gap
Closing the achievement gapkmf55040
 
5 dimension of muticulturalism in briefs
5 dimension of muticulturalism in briefs5 dimension of muticulturalism in briefs
5 dimension of muticulturalism in briefsdhema
 
Success in these Schools 2015
Success in these Schools 2015Success in these Schools 2015
Success in these Schools 2015Alan R. Garcia
 
I Used To Think And Now I Think
I Used To Think And Now I ThinkI Used To Think And Now I Think
I Used To Think And Now I ThinkWSU Cougars
 
Research Proposal on Educating Hispanic Immigrants
Research Proposal on Educating Hispanic ImmigrantsResearch Proposal on Educating Hispanic Immigrants
Research Proposal on Educating Hispanic ImmigrantsRaul Bustamante
 
Luebbering-MDP.Presentation.Compressed
Luebbering-MDP.Presentation.CompressedLuebbering-MDP.Presentation.Compressed
Luebbering-MDP.Presentation.CompressedKara Luebbering
 
Gender in Education
Gender in EducationGender in Education
Gender in Educationkristaj61
 
Gender in Education
Gender in EducationGender in Education
Gender in Educationkristaj61
 
Dr. W.A. Kritsonis, National FORUM Journals, www.nationalforum.com
Dr. W.A. Kritsonis, National FORUM Journals, www.nationalforum.comDr. W.A. Kritsonis, National FORUM Journals, www.nationalforum.com
Dr. W.A. Kritsonis, National FORUM Journals, www.nationalforum.comWilliam Kritsonis
 
Cms 498 chapter 8 presentation
Cms 498 chapter 8 presentationCms 498 chapter 8 presentation
Cms 498 chapter 8 presentationManica Hing
 
‘Liminal learners’ in a global city: The education of Bangladeshi girls in ea...
‘Liminal learners’ in a global city: The education of Bangladeshi girls in ea...‘Liminal learners’ in a global city: The education of Bangladeshi girls in ea...
‘Liminal learners’ in a global city: The education of Bangladeshi girls in ea...johnroseadams1
 
Gen X and Y? Because we like them!
Gen X and Y? Because we like them!Gen X and Y? Because we like them!
Gen X and Y? Because we like them!MesaPublicLibrary
 

La actualidad más candente (17)

Educating Girls Annotated Bibliography
Educating Girls Annotated BibliographyEducating Girls Annotated Bibliography
Educating Girls Annotated Bibliography
 
Miller_Pazia_Thesis_Final-Pazia
Miller_Pazia_Thesis_Final-PaziaMiller_Pazia_Thesis_Final-Pazia
Miller_Pazia_Thesis_Final-Pazia
 
Single sex education miolo
Single sex education mioloSingle sex education miolo
Single sex education miolo
 
Closing the achievement gap
Closing the achievement gapClosing the achievement gap
Closing the achievement gap
 
5 dimension of muticulturalism in briefs
5 dimension of muticulturalism in briefs5 dimension of muticulturalism in briefs
5 dimension of muticulturalism in briefs
 
Success in these Schools 2015
Success in these Schools 2015Success in these Schools 2015
Success in these Schools 2015
 
I Used To Think And Now I Think
I Used To Think And Now I ThinkI Used To Think And Now I Think
I Used To Think And Now I Think
 
SOCIOLOGY Education quotes to learn
SOCIOLOGY Education quotes to learnSOCIOLOGY Education quotes to learn
SOCIOLOGY Education quotes to learn
 
Research Proposal on Educating Hispanic Immigrants
Research Proposal on Educating Hispanic ImmigrantsResearch Proposal on Educating Hispanic Immigrants
Research Proposal on Educating Hispanic Immigrants
 
Luebbering-MDP.Presentation.Compressed
Luebbering-MDP.Presentation.CompressedLuebbering-MDP.Presentation.Compressed
Luebbering-MDP.Presentation.Compressed
 
Gender in Education
Gender in EducationGender in Education
Gender in Education
 
Gender in Education
Gender in EducationGender in Education
Gender in Education
 
Dr. W.A. Kritsonis, National FORUM Journals, www.nationalforum.com
Dr. W.A. Kritsonis, National FORUM Journals, www.nationalforum.comDr. W.A. Kritsonis, National FORUM Journals, www.nationalforum.com
Dr. W.A. Kritsonis, National FORUM Journals, www.nationalforum.com
 
Civic Involvement
Civic InvolvementCivic Involvement
Civic Involvement
 
Cms 498 chapter 8 presentation
Cms 498 chapter 8 presentationCms 498 chapter 8 presentation
Cms 498 chapter 8 presentation
 
‘Liminal learners’ in a global city: The education of Bangladeshi girls in ea...
‘Liminal learners’ in a global city: The education of Bangladeshi girls in ea...‘Liminal learners’ in a global city: The education of Bangladeshi girls in ea...
‘Liminal learners’ in a global city: The education of Bangladeshi girls in ea...
 
Gen X and Y? Because we like them!
Gen X and Y? Because we like them!Gen X and Y? Because we like them!
Gen X and Y? Because we like them!
 

Destacado

best project training center Trichy
best project training center Trichybest project training center Trichy
best project training center Trichykrish madhi
 
4th EDUCON ASIA Sponsorship Prospectus
4th EDUCON ASIA Sponsorship Prospectus4th EDUCON ASIA Sponsorship Prospectus
4th EDUCON ASIA Sponsorship ProspectusKahren Navarro
 
diploma andrei florin naghi naghi
diploma andrei florin naghi naghidiploma andrei florin naghi naghi
diploma andrei florin naghi naghiAndrei Naghi Naghi
 
Print article
Print articlePrint article
Print articleCh Rao
 
Mikael Börjeson - Future internet for Smarter Cities and User-centric Open I...
Mikael Börjeson  - Future internet for Smarter Cities and User-centric Open I...Mikael Börjeson  - Future internet for Smarter Cities and User-centric Open I...
Mikael Börjeson - Future internet for Smarter Cities and User-centric Open I...FIA2010
 
Cloud Computing Papers Namakkal
Cloud Computing Papers NamakkalCloud Computing Papers Namakkal
Cloud Computing Papers Namakkalkrish madhi
 
العمل الجماعي
العمل الجماعيالعمل الجماعي
العمل الجماعيsara alshiredah
 
مهارات بناء وإدارة فرق العمل- أ.د. محمد غانم
 مهارات بناء وإدارة فرق العمل- أ.د. محمد غانم مهارات بناء وإدارة فرق العمل- أ.د. محمد غانم
مهارات بناء وإدارة فرق العمل- أ.د. محمد غانمDr-Mohamed Ghanem
 
Escuela segura frente al riesgo social_ lectura 02_Curso Formación de Brigada...
Escuela segura frente al riesgo social_ lectura 02_Curso Formación de Brigada...Escuela segura frente al riesgo social_ lectura 02_Curso Formación de Brigada...
Escuela segura frente al riesgo social_ lectura 02_Curso Formación de Brigada...Teresa Clotilde Ojeda Sánchez
 

Destacado (16)

best project training center Trichy
best project training center Trichybest project training center Trichy
best project training center Trichy
 
4th EDUCON ASIA Sponsorship Prospectus
4th EDUCON ASIA Sponsorship Prospectus4th EDUCON ASIA Sponsorship Prospectus
4th EDUCON ASIA Sponsorship Prospectus
 
diploma andrei florin naghi naghi
diploma andrei florin naghi naghidiploma andrei florin naghi naghi
diploma andrei florin naghi naghi
 
1.8
1.81.8
1.8
 
Print article
Print articlePrint article
Print article
 
Zero conditional
Zero conditionalZero conditional
Zero conditional
 
SOY LOCA
SOY LOCASOY LOCA
SOY LOCA
 
kursad turkoğlu cv
kursad turkoğlu cvkursad turkoğlu cv
kursad turkoğlu cv
 
Mikael Börjeson - Future internet for Smarter Cities and User-centric Open I...
Mikael Börjeson  - Future internet for Smarter Cities and User-centric Open I...Mikael Börjeson  - Future internet for Smarter Cities and User-centric Open I...
Mikael Börjeson - Future internet for Smarter Cities and User-centric Open I...
 
Cloud Computing Papers Namakkal
Cloud Computing Papers NamakkalCloud Computing Papers Namakkal
Cloud Computing Papers Namakkal
 
محاسبة الزكاة و الضريبة 1
محاسبة الزكاة و الضريبة 1محاسبة الزكاة و الضريبة 1
محاسبة الزكاة و الضريبة 1
 
العمل الجماعي
العمل الجماعيالعمل الجماعي
العمل الجماعي
 
Residuos Sólidos y Consumo Responsable
Residuos Sólidos y Consumo ResponsableResiduos Sólidos y Consumo Responsable
Residuos Sólidos y Consumo Responsable
 
Oficio 096 2016 vacaciones truncas -2016
Oficio 096 2016 vacaciones truncas -2016Oficio 096 2016 vacaciones truncas -2016
Oficio 096 2016 vacaciones truncas -2016
 
مهارات بناء وإدارة فرق العمل- أ.د. محمد غانم
 مهارات بناء وإدارة فرق العمل- أ.د. محمد غانم مهارات بناء وإدارة فرق العمل- أ.د. محمد غانم
مهارات بناء وإدارة فرق العمل- أ.د. محمد غانم
 
Escuela segura frente al riesgo social_ lectura 02_Curso Formación de Brigada...
Escuela segura frente al riesgo social_ lectura 02_Curso Formación de Brigada...Escuela segura frente al riesgo social_ lectura 02_Curso Formación de Brigada...
Escuela segura frente al riesgo social_ lectura 02_Curso Formación de Brigada...
 

Similar a Final Paper

Essay About Teaching African American Male Students
Essay About Teaching African American Male StudentsEssay About Teaching African American Male Students
Essay About Teaching African American Male StudentsHeather Dionne
 
Race and value for african american males
Race and value for african american malesRace and value for african american males
Race and value for african american malesReChard Peel
 
The Benefits of a Diverse Teaching Force 12 15-13
The Benefits of a Diverse Teaching Force 12 15-13The Benefits of a Diverse Teaching Force 12 15-13
The Benefits of a Diverse Teaching Force 12 15-13Vic Nixon
 
Educational Career Research Paper
Educational Career Research PaperEducational Career Research Paper
Educational Career Research PaperToni Christensen
 
Hines, mack t dehumanization of black children nfeasj v32 n4 2015
Hines, mack t dehumanization of black children nfeasj v32 n4 2015Hines, mack t dehumanization of black children nfeasj v32 n4 2015
Hines, mack t dehumanization of black children nfeasj v32 n4 2015William Kritsonis
 
Hines, mack t dehumanization of black children nfeasj v32 n4 2015
Hines, mack t dehumanization of black children nfeasj v32 n4 2015Hines, mack t dehumanization of black children nfeasj v32 n4 2015
Hines, mack t dehumanization of black children nfeasj v32 n4 2015William Kritsonis
 
Issues In Multicultural Education
Issues In Multicultural EducationIssues In Multicultural Education
Issues In Multicultural EducationMelissa Grant
 
Edd conference proposal presentation 1
Edd conference proposal presentation 1Edd conference proposal presentation 1
Edd conference proposal presentation 1vdavis724
 
Stereotypes Of Black Police Males Essay
Stereotypes Of Black Police Males EssayStereotypes Of Black Police Males Essay
Stereotypes Of Black Police Males EssayDanielle Davis
 
The Promise of Black Teachers' Success with Black Students
The Promise of Black Teachers' Success with Black StudentsThe Promise of Black Teachers' Success with Black Students
The Promise of Black Teachers' Success with Black StudentsJonathan Dunnemann
 
The Controversial Issue Of Teaching Religion In Public...
The Controversial Issue Of Teaching Religion In Public...The Controversial Issue Of Teaching Religion In Public...
The Controversial Issue Of Teaching Religion In Public...Elizabeth Temburu
 
Underachievement Among College Students
Underachievement Among College StudentsUnderachievement Among College Students
Underachievement Among College StudentsKelly Ratkovic
 
Anti-Oppressive Pedagogy In Early Childhood Teacher Education A Conversation
Anti-Oppressive Pedagogy In Early Childhood Teacher Education  A ConversationAnti-Oppressive Pedagogy In Early Childhood Teacher Education  A Conversation
Anti-Oppressive Pedagogy In Early Childhood Teacher Education A ConversationCynthia Velynne
 

Similar a Final Paper (20)

Essay About Teaching African American Male Students
Essay About Teaching African American Male StudentsEssay About Teaching African American Male Students
Essay About Teaching African American Male Students
 
Race and value for african american males
Race and value for african american malesRace and value for african american males
Race and value for african american males
 
The Benefits of a Diverse Teaching Force 12 15-13
The Benefits of a Diverse Teaching Force 12 15-13The Benefits of a Diverse Teaching Force 12 15-13
The Benefits of a Diverse Teaching Force 12 15-13
 
Through Our Eyes
Through Our EyesThrough Our Eyes
Through Our Eyes
 
Educational Career Research Paper
Educational Career Research PaperEducational Career Research Paper
Educational Career Research Paper
 
Hines, mack t dehumanization of black children nfeasj v32 n4 2015
Hines, mack t dehumanization of black children nfeasj v32 n4 2015Hines, mack t dehumanization of black children nfeasj v32 n4 2015
Hines, mack t dehumanization of black children nfeasj v32 n4 2015
 
Hines, mack t dehumanization of black children nfeasj v32 n4 2015
Hines, mack t dehumanization of black children nfeasj v32 n4 2015Hines, mack t dehumanization of black children nfeasj v32 n4 2015
Hines, mack t dehumanization of black children nfeasj v32 n4 2015
 
Teach For America Essay
Teach For America EssayTeach For America Essay
Teach For America Essay
 
Lack Of Education In America Essay
Lack Of Education In America EssayLack Of Education In America Essay
Lack Of Education In America Essay
 
Issues In Multicultural Education
Issues In Multicultural EducationIssues In Multicultural Education
Issues In Multicultural Education
 
Edd conference proposal presentation 1
Edd conference proposal presentation 1Edd conference proposal presentation 1
Edd conference proposal presentation 1
 
Stereotypes Of Black Police Males Essay
Stereotypes Of Black Police Males EssayStereotypes Of Black Police Males Essay
Stereotypes Of Black Police Males Essay
 
CSUF Newsletter 2011
CSUF Newsletter 2011CSUF Newsletter 2011
CSUF Newsletter 2011
 
Teach For America
Teach For AmericaTeach For America
Teach For America
 
The Promise of Black Teachers' Success with Black Students
The Promise of Black Teachers' Success with Black StudentsThe Promise of Black Teachers' Success with Black Students
The Promise of Black Teachers' Success with Black Students
 
The Controversial Issue Of Teaching Religion In Public...
The Controversial Issue Of Teaching Religion In Public...The Controversial Issue Of Teaching Religion In Public...
The Controversial Issue Of Teaching Religion In Public...
 
Underachievement Among College Students
Underachievement Among College StudentsUnderachievement Among College Students
Underachievement Among College Students
 
Ar 3-rodela-done
Ar 3-rodela-doneAr 3-rodela-done
Ar 3-rodela-done
 
Conference ppt
Conference pptConference ppt
Conference ppt
 
Anti-Oppressive Pedagogy In Early Childhood Teacher Education A Conversation
Anti-Oppressive Pedagogy In Early Childhood Teacher Education  A ConversationAnti-Oppressive Pedagogy In Early Childhood Teacher Education  A Conversation
Anti-Oppressive Pedagogy In Early Childhood Teacher Education A Conversation
 

Final Paper

  • 1. D’Shai L. Hendricks Race and Education Lecture Series Arnetha Ball & Cheryl Brown March 16, 2012 The African American Child in Education: The Future Plessy v. Ferguson With news regarding the success of Urban Prep Academy in Chicago, IL, over the last few years, the topic of educating African American male students has been a hot topic in the media and education in general. Urban Prep Academy, an all-male charter school founded in 2006 in Chicago, succeeded in having every member of its graduating senior class accepted into a four-year college/university for the past two years. This phenomenon of African American male success in high school graduation and college acceptance is not a common one, though, which leads one to question why that is. What is the solution to solving this problem of African-American underachievement, especially in black boys? What is preventing the vast majority of these individuals from achieving the accomplishment that the boys at Urban Prep Academy continue to reach? The knowledge gained from this class led me to try to understand whether African American teachers contribute to the academic achievement of African American urban male students, both pedagogically and socially. In “Doing Race,” the authors state, “The question, then, is not whether we should deal with difference, but rather how we address the differences we encounter,” and ensuring that the persons teaching our children are the best for the job is a key way to address these differences. Many guests touched upon this aspect of education in their lectures and wrestled with the idea of black students’ underachievement and why it exists. Moreover, they all
  • 2. looked into teachers and teaching as an avenue that has significant impact on the performance of young black men and women. In his book, “An African Centered Response to Ruby Payne’s Poverty Theory,” Dr. Jawanza Kunjufu explicitly states, “…Two consecutive years of an ineffective teacher could destroy a child for life.” Kunjufu goes on to discuss how low-income black and Hispanic neighborhoods receive poor teachers, causing their students to fall behind tremendously in the coming years. If the teacher is ineffective, there is no hope or projection for our black students: “Good teachers cost more, but ineffective teachers cost the most.” He even references the fact that white women are controlling the future of our race in that they represent 83% of elementary school teachers while black men represent a mere 1%: “The future of the black race lies in the hands of white female teachers.” This must change in order for the achievement of our children to change. Dr. Na’ilah Nasir, in her research, looks more deeply into the stereotypes, identities, and psychological struggles within African American students, but she also acknowledges the lack of qualified and effective teachers for our children. She states, “Teachers in such schools are less likely to be credentialed, are newer to the profession, and are more likely to teach by ‘drill-and-kill’ methods.” Paula Moya and Hazel Markus support this idea in saying, “Study after study show that underperforming students are taught by teachers who have not received the highest quality training and who do not have access to the best curricular materials.” Even Professor M.K. Asante argues that current teaching/schooling is not enough for our African American students, in his story about “Two Sets of Notes.” He clearly states that there is a problem with how African American students are being taught right now, but the key to fixing it lies in understanding that “When you make an observation, you have
  • 3. an obligation.” Professor Asante and Dr. Patrick Camagian hint that African American teachers are very effective, if not the most effective, when it comes to teaching African American students, and I believe that this is a key solution to the underachievement of our youth. From previous research on the subject, we have a lot of relevant information in regards to African American teachers’ influence on African American male student achievement. First off, we see from Michele Foster’s research in 1995 that African American teachers have an effect on African American students’ achievement. Foster sought out to answer the question of who are the best African American teachers of African American children, why they do what they do, and how they are so successful in doing it by interviewing several successful African American teachers. In her phenomenological experiment, she found that older teachers, 45-85 years old, who held an African American ethos that informed their teaching pedagogies in some ways, felt compelled to encompass other aspects of the black students’ lives, and were proficient in the community norms of their students were the best teachers of black students. And of course, the teachers with these qualities were all African American. We see evidence of cultural understanding within African American teachers impacting their pedagogical performance and student achievement in Dr. Arnetha Ball’s qualitative research as well. Ball concludes, through an ethnography of three black women at community-based organizations and programs, that cultural and linguistic capital are essential for teachers to effectively teach African American students. Ball’s research gave us a closer look at what African American teachers possessed and utilized pedagogically that influenced their success with black students.
  • 4. After accepting the fact that African American teachers have a positive impact on African American students, we were then forced to look at why that is. In 2001, Tyrone Howard provided us with some grounded theory research in this area. Through interviews, field notes, classroom observations, etc., he was able to conclude that the successful African American female teachers that he followed all utilized culturally relevant pedagogies and the ideology that teaching requires more than just focusing on the academic achievement of students in order to educate them. Like Arnetha Ball, Howard also allowed us to see that even though they all have similar ideologies and goals from being African American teachers, the different strategies and implementations come from their own personal experiences and strengths as individuals. In other words, the pedagogical approaches vary from black teacher to black teacher, but the mindsets, goals, and expectations remain the same among them. We see a similar conclusion with Anthony Brown’s research in observing African American male teachers with African American male students. This topic brings up some very interesting ethical dilemmas for American society, government, and education reform activists to deal with. With the conclusion that African American male students will succeed more and better in schools with African American teachers, the next step should and would be to try to ensure that these two groups are together. With this, though, it seems like there might have to be some sort of “separate but equal” clause being made in order to push this into action. In regards to the black community, however, these words cause very skeptical, unconvinced and harshly glaring eyes at the picture. Do we have to make schools just for black students and teachers? Will the government provide the funding for it? Will they actually be equal? How will they
  • 5. recruit more African American teachers? Will it be an easier process? All of these questions arise when trying to think further than the question at hand, but this shouldn’t stop us from handling the issue. The fact that this conclusion may cause conflict does not mean that we should stray away from it. Furthermore, in order to equal opportunity and equal education to be truly present, this will have to be pursued in some way, shape, or form. With a true understanding and conclusion of the significance of African American teachers teaching African American male students, who are failing in the education system far more than other groups, we can then take necessary action to improve the system. The impact this will have on our nation is not even comprehensible, and the impact this will have on my community is even greater.
  • 6. Bibliography Asante, M.K. It’s Bigger Than Hip Hop: The Rise of the Post Hip Hop Generation. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 2008. Print. Ball, Arnetha F. (2000). Empowering Pedagogies that Enhance the Learning of Multicultural Students. Teachers College Record, 102(6), pp. 1006-10034. Brown, Anthony L. (2009). "Brothers Gonna Work It Out:" Understanding the Pedagogic Performance of African American Male Teachers Working with African American Male Students. Urban Review: Issues and Ideas in Public Education, 41(5), pp.416-435. Foster, Michele. (1993). Educating for Competence in Community and Culture: Exploring the Views of Exemplary African-American Teachers. Urban Education, 27(4), pp. 370-394. Hess, Frederick M. & Leal, David L. (1997). Minority Teachers, Minority Students, and College Matriculation: A New Look at the Role-Modeling Hypothesis. Policy Studies Journal, 25(2), pp. 235-248. Howard, Tyrone C. (2001). Powerful Pedagogy for African American Students: A Case of Four Teachers. Urban Education, 36(2), pp. 179-202. Kunjufu, Jawanza. An African Centered Response to Ruby Payne’s Poverty Theory. Chicago, IL: African American Images, 2006. Print. Moya, Paula M.L., and Hazel Rose Markus. Doing Race: 21 Essays For the 21st Century. New York: W.W. Norton & Co., 2010. Print. Nasir, Na’ilah. Racialized Identities: Race and Achievement Among African American Youth. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press, 2011. Print.