How African American College Students Navigated High School: Experiencing Variations in Instruction and Fighting Stereotypes

• In Event: Roundtable Session 39
  In Roundtable Session: Black Education in a Multicultural Context

Abstract

This study focuses on 13 African American millennial students who successfully entered college in spite of their perception that some of their high school teachers held low expectations and provided low level learning opportunities. We interviewed these student to explore their lived experiences in relation to three constructs: racial congruency, teacher expectations, and stereotype threat. Students felt that some teachers wanted to meet their needs but did not know how. In addition, they believed that some teachers held low expectations and negative stereotypes, but they used this knowledge as motivation for success. Our study suggests that teachers can learn to work with students of different races; and that students can learn to mitigate the negative impact of stereotype threat.

Authors

• Carla R Postell, Western Michigan University

• Sue Poppink, Western Michigan University

• Jim A. Muchmore, Western Michigan University