Transformational Moments: Taking Advantage of the Opportunity to Save our Sons

African American Male Students in PreK-12 Schools: Informing Research, Policy, and Practice

ISBN: 978-1-78350-783-2

ISSN: 2051-2317

Publication date: 16 July 2014

Citation

(2014), "Transformational Moments: Taking Advantage of the Opportunity to Save our Sons", African American Male Students in PreK-12 Schools: Informing Research, Policy, and Practice (Advances in Race and Ethnicity in Education, Vol. 2), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. xix-xx. https://doi.org/10.1108/S2051-231720140000002011

Publisher

:

Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2014 Emerald Group Publishing Limited


Our ability, as a nation, to take advantage of the opportunities available throughout our global 21st century community depends in large measure on our ability to support African American educational excellence. The United States has long held fast to the belief that education paves the pathway to the American Dream – to opportunities and experiences that help Americans acquire the means to be successful, care for a family, and fully participate in a community. In the African American community, high-quality education and developmental opportunities have enabled us to create jobs and new industries, overcome income and social gaps, and transcend as other significant challenges emerge. Students at any age, birth through adulthood, deserve meaningful opportunities that enable them to be successful at school and prepared for careers that can support them and their families.

Regardless of zip code or genetic code, every child in America should have access to a high-quality education and the social and emotional support that prepare him or her for college and a career. The chapters, included in African American male students in PreK-12 schools: Informing research, policy, and practice, highlight promising and proven strategies supporting African American males beginning at birth. While learning lessons from what has worked, we still need to remember that there is still work to be done. While we should be careful not to generalize and suggest that all Black boys are in crisis, all Black boys can benefit from knowing that they are valued, supported, and protected – especially at home, school, and in their communities.

As evidenced in the chapters that follow, all caring and concerned adults should ensure that Black boys are developing fundamental academic and social skills; learning and engaged in school and out-of-school settings; are supported in developing a strong sense of black masculine identity; and have parents, grandparents, and mentors who are committed to supporting their growth and development. Creating protective, safe, and productive environments for Black boys requires correcting myths that give life to the fallacy that they cannot achieve at extremely high levels. As a society, we should dispel myths like there are more Black men in prison than college.

The chapters, included in this edited compilation, provide important facts, information, and other resources that can contribute to this effort. When I worked as a classroom teacher, some of my colleagues used myths and deleterious stereotypes of boys and men of color to convince themselves they did not have to put in the work to provide quality instruction to Black boys because they are presumed to end up dead or incarcerated. Changing the narrative around African American males requires telling more stories about the everyday examples of their achievement and success, resilience, and grit.

We should talk about opportunities for boys and young men at all ages to support each other and continue to have conversations, in public and private, about the opportunities and obligations as a nation to expand opportunities. Additionally, we should support programs and people both inside and outside the African American community who are doing the work. Beyond simply talking about it, we have to move beyond the rhetoric to ensure that the gains made, during the early years, are sustained throughout a Black male’s lifespan. This includes ensuring that they have access to high-quality learning opportunities beginning at birth. Thus, it requires collective efforts of committed adults focused on implementing positive educational programs, policies, and practices designed to support African American males throughout their PreK-12 schooling and beyond.

And, as we do this work, we should be careful to avoid neglecting our daughters in the process. Our Black girls and women need our care, love, and support too. These are only a few of the ways that me and many of the contributors of this edited volume are working to support African American males in schools and communities across the nation. Personally, I believe that this edited volume is a valuable resource on what parents, schools, and the public, more generally, can do to support African American males of all ages. I also trust that this edited volume will add substantially to the growing body of research on black boys and contribute to advancing the national dialogue on critical issues concerning education, economics, government, and diversity in America – issues that have significant implications for the future success of our schools, communities, and country. I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to this edited volume, and I close with, “Teach The Babies!”

David J. Johns

African American Male Students in PreK-12 Schools: Informing Research, Policy, and Practice
Advances in Race and Ethnicity in Education
African American Male Students in PreK-12 Schools: Informing Research, Policy, and Practice
Copyright Page
List of Contributors
Dedication
Acknowledgments
Endorsements
Transformational Moments: Taking Advantage of the Opportunity to Save our Sons
Introduction to Edited Volume
Chapter 1 Academic and Psychosocial Development of African American Males in PreK-12 Settings
Chapter 2 High Achieving African American Boys: Factors that Contribute to their Excellence in the Early Years
Chapter 3 “Trying to Find Self”: Promoting Excellence and Building Community Among African American Males
Chapter 4 Raising African American Boys: An Exploration of Parental Educational Practices and Beliefs
Chapter 5 Chutes and Ladders: Young African American Males Navigating Potholes to Achieve Academic Success
Chapter 6 Perspectives on Educational Attainment Among Vulnerable African American Male Youth
Chapter 7 A Perfect Storm: How Pose, Perception, and Threat Converge to Perpetuate Discriminatory Discipline Practices for Black Male Students
Chapter 8 Community Violence as a Mediator between African American Adolescent Males’ Personal Challenges and Antisocial Behaviors
Chapter 9 When Federal Law and State Policies Collide: African American Boys are Laden with Momentous Challenges
Chapter 10 Creating a College-going Culture for African American Males in Middle School: A Blueprint for School Counselors
Chapter 11 Inside the Black Box: African American Male Students’ Educational Experiences and Outcomes as a Result of Participation in Career and Technical Education
Chapter 12 Closing the Social Studies Achievement Gap for African American Males
Chapter 13 Readers Theater and the “Receivement Gap”: The Impact of Theater-Based Instructional Strategies on African American Male’s Reading Achievement
Chapter 14 African American Males and Physical Education
Chapter 15 Race–Gender Inequality Across Residential and School Contexts: What can Policy Do?
About the Editors
About the Authors
About the Series Editors