The Colour of Class: The educational strategies of the Black middle classes by Nicola Rollock

by Nicola Rollock

At every single stage of my child s education, I make sure that they are not under the radar (mother)How do race and class intersect to shape the identities and experiences of Black middle-class parents and their children?What are Black middle class parents strategies for supporting their children through school?What role do the educational histories of Black middle class parents play in their decision-making about their children s education?There is now an extensive body of research on the educational strategies of the white middle classes but a silence exists around the emergence of the Black middle classes, and their experiences, priorities, and actions in relation to education. This book focuses on middle class families of Black Caribbean heritage.Drawing on rich qualitative data from nearly 80 in-depth interviews with Black Caribbean middle-class parents, the internationally renowned authors reveal how these parents attempt to navigate their children successfully through the English school system, and defend them against low expectations and other manifestations of racism/discrimination. They also identify when, how and to what extent parents deploy the financial, cultural and social resources available to them as professional, middle class individuals in support of their children s academic success and emotional well-being. In doing so, the book sheds light on the complex, and relatively neglected relations, between race, social class and education. In addition, the book poses wider questions about the experiences of social mobility in the UK and the intersection of race and class in forming the identity of the parents and their children, who are, in most cases, the third generation of Black British citizens.This book will appeal to undergraduates and postgraduates on education, sociology and social policy courses as well as academics with an interest in Critical Race Theory.

Paperback

First published November 5, 2012