Black Fathers Rising: An Analysis of Paternal Influence on Sons' Sense of Belonging and Engagement

• In Event: Persistent, Consistent, and Insistent: Advancing Black Males' Educational Research

Abstract

This critical race intersectionality study considers the influence of Black fathers on their sons’ sense of belonging and engagement in school. In this secondary analysis, the researchers consider a representative sample of Black male students (N = 388) that participated in the High School Longitudinal Study of 2009/2012 (HSLS:09/12). We conducted a canonical correlation analysis (CCA) to study the relationship between the paternal influence of Black fathers and their son’s school involvement. Results confirm that a unique positive relationship exists between the paternal influence of Black fathers and the school involvement of their sons. Implications for centering more interventions on Black fathering to promote positive school involvement are considered.

Authors

• Willie C.J. Harmon, Jr., Texas A&M University - College Station

• Lawrence Lowell Scott, Texas A&M University - San Antonio

• Marlon C. James, Texas A&M University - College Station

• Jamaal Young, Texas A&M University