Achievement Gap Between African American and African/Afro-Caribbean Immigrants: Historical Literacy, Segregation, and Relational Dynamics

• In Event: 60.075 - The Determination to Succeed

Abstract

To address the intractable White-Black achievement gap, many experts now focus on within-group scholastic differences between African Americans and Black immigrants from the Caribbean and Africa. Many researchers argue that Blacks do not represent a homogeneous group and that (a) African Americans perform lower than their African- and Afro-Caribbean-immigrant peers, and (b) the relationship dynamics between these sub-racial groups are often conflictual. This study uses census and IPUMs data, focus groups, interviews, public media and social media sources to empirically examine both achievement gap and relationship dynamics within the U.S. Black population. It findings highlight possible demographic changes since the 1990s, significance of historical literacy and socialization processes of immigrants. These findings can advance educational programming, policy and practice.

Authors

• Desmond I. Odugu, Lake Forest College

• Camille N Lemieux, Lake Forest College

• Oyindamola O Johnson, Lake Forest College

• Samukelisiwe S Ngwenya, Lake Forest College