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Perspectives on Educational Attainment Among Vulnerable African American Male Youth

Abstract

Recognizing the effects of dropping out of high school on society, several questions still remain: (a) Why do urban, African American male students drop out of high school? and (b) What makes these students more prone to dropping out than their counterparts who remain in school? In an attempt to better understand the lives and circumstances of African American males, this study uses a comparative case method to examine similarities and differences in the life histories of a matched sample of African American male high school graduates and dropouts. This study, specifically, focuses on how the interrelated factors of family, neighborhood, peers, and education may shape these youths’ perspective on school. Findings reveal that, while both groups experience high levels of risk factors, high school dropouts had significantly more risk experiences in the family, community, and criminal justice domains. The dropouts also had fewer protective factors in these domain areas. Based on the findings, recommendations are offered.

Citation

Miller, E., Wilkinson, D.L., Cummings, S. and Moore, J.L. (2014), "Perspectives on Educational Attainment Among Vulnerable African American Male Youth", 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. 125-150. https://doi.org/10.1108/S2051-231720140000002024

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2014 Emerald Group Publishing Limited