Gerry L. Small and Adrian Worrell (2018) Contextualizing the Black Male experience within Education and its Socio-Cultural Impact

Abstract

“Contextualizing the Black Male experience within Education and its Socio-Cultural Impact” is part two of the “Rose” tale told and insinuated by North American mainstream media to help produce the image of the “marketable” Black male. It encourages society to subscribe to a conglomeration of cultural, class and gender norms which are crucial to the reproduction of the complex oppressions that entrench and normalise white supremacy. It does so in social institutions such as the mass media and the schooling process, through nationalistic pride and sensibilities, and at serious, but generally unrecognised, social and emotional cost. My investigation of these issues, and the support of my thesis, is organised around one major question: What lessons in “success” do Black males receive most frequently from their schooling? Though the barriers and obstacles are many, and sometimes surprising, this interrogation permits for the healing and protection of ourselves and others, and so are vital to our nourishing of the unborn and offer direction to young Black men on the path to being, learning and becoming, their fullest educated selves.

Keywords: Dream Big; Zero-Tolerance policies; Black drop-out rates; Low-Expectations; The White-Gaze; “Acting White”

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Youth Voice Journal is an international, multidisciplinary, refereed journal that publishes theoretical contributions and empirical studies on international issues affecting young people. In particular, the Journal aims to: - provide a medium, especially for young researchers and young academics, to inform debates around social policy through high quality research; - provide a platform for the intellectual exchange of ideas around the globe with the aim of influencing policies and practices; - actively encourage and aide those young people whose voice is rarely heard by policy makers to contribute to the journal. Youth Voice Journal is published by RJ4All Publications and edited by Dr. Theo Gavrielides.

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