Black Students. Middle Class Teachers.

by Jawanza Kunjufu

This compelling look at the relationship between the majority of African American students and their teachers provides answers and solutions to the hard-hitting questions facing education in today’s black and mixed-race communities. Are teachers prepared by their college education departments to teach African American children? Are schools designed for middle-class children and, if so, what are the implications for the 50 percent of African Americans who live below the poverty line? Is the major issue between teachers and students class or racial difference? Why do some of the lowest test scores come from classrooms where black educators are teaching black students? How can parents negotiate with schools to prevent having their children placed in special education programs? Teaching techniques and a list of exemplary schools that are successfully educating African Americans are also included.

Genres: Education, Race, Nonfiction

192 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2002

Reviews

[Robbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and sweet, yet incredibly valuable for a “middle class teacher” that teaches “black students.” Definitely a must read for teachers of all experience levels that work with African American students.

[Tama · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book to be surprising, affirming and insightful. There were so many elements of this book that confirmed thoughts and questions that I have had about Black education. At the same time, the book has again confirmed that I, as a white educator, can make a difference in the education of a black student. And sprinkled through the text were Bible versus that seemed to speak to us from over 2000 years ago. Are we not paying attention?

Kunjufu focused his book around several major themes: low expectations, time on task, incongruence between pedagogy and learning styles, irrelevant curricula, negative peer pressure, tracking, and poor parental involvement.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're teaching students different thatn you it is essential that you read this book to find insight on how some students act and what motivates them

[Brent · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've spent a lot of time working in predominantly minority schools within the last year or so and I had noticed that most of the teachers are white. This inspired me to pick up this book. It is a huge topic for the context that I am in and effects me a lot as a white middle-class person working with black youth.

This book is not especially well written, but it is a quick read and has TONS of resources and ideas for improving student performance in predominantly black schools. It is valuable for anyone coming from a middle class background into a low-income black school.

[Christine mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

I good quick read. A great introduction to the problems black students have in today's education system and a good resource for some ideas on what to do about it. Lots of references for further reading. It could have given some more real life plans, like sample lesson plans and discipline ideas. I'd recommend it to anyone who, like me, doesn't know much about what it's like to be black in America.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

A necessary perspective on urban education. Some great concrete ideas sprinkled throughout-- I like the idea of calling students by the titles associated with their dream careers-- but the text should be tightened up and the data better presented (some graphs difficult to read, missing axis labels) and discussed (Is the 4 % increase in test scores under African-American tutelage statistically significant? Are divorce and fatherlessness the same?).

[Wealhtheow]

This would be a lot better book if it didn't itself up as white female middle-class teachers vs. poor black boys. Very specific, just a wee bit prejudiced. Still, some good bits in here--for example, the disproportionate number of black boys who are sent to special ed or expelled for behavior or test scores that are ignored in white boys.

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

I borrowed this book for a colleague, and we'll have a good discussion about it. Kunjufu has a passion for his topic. Chapter 5, "A Relevant Black Curriculum" has some cross-curricular ideas that made me re-examine my approaches to Sophocles, Shakespeare, and many of the other "dead white guys" we push in the traditional ELA curriculum.

[M · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title of this book really offended me. At first, I felt like the author was saying middle class teachers (most of whom are white) were not the first choice for black students. However, there was a lot of good information in this book. This author is also quite prolific.

[Susie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first five minutes and the last five minutes. . .

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nothing new. It did reference some books I'd like to read.

[Lindsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book would have been better if it had offered more ideas to implement in the classroom. I thought it mainly gave knowledge instead of application. Quick and easy read.