Umoja: On One Accord, the Right to Know, Think, and Aspire Among African American Girls

Session Type: Symposium

Abstract

African American girls face significant academic and social skill challenges in school. They achieve the poorest academic and behavioral outcomes in comparison to female peers from other racial groups. Further, they have the second highest rate of poor school outcomes among all groups of children (African American males are first on that list). Finally, they are faced with negative perceptions of who they truly are in the school context. Administrators and teachers are often void in their understanding of the dimensions of African American culture, the positive aspects of “talking with attitude (TWA). This symposium will share initiatives to create and sustain integrity/strength pedagogical actions for “their good,” as we affirm their right to know, think and aspire (DuBois, 1906).

Sub Unit

• SIG-Research on Women and Education

Chair

• Gwendolyn Carol Webb, Texas A&M University

Papers

• Talking With Attitude: Accessing the Voices of African American Girls - Gwendolyn Carol Webb, Texas A&M University; Patricia J. Larke, Texas A&M University

• Loud, Proud, and Love a Crowd—Remix - Brenda L. Townsend Walker, University of South Florida

• Golden Queens: African American Girls Contextualizing Talking With Attitude - Sonia Marie Marrero, North Carolina A&T State University; Tanisha Graham, Texas A&M University

• I Love My Hair, Do You Dare to Care? - Victoria Carter Jones; Gwendolyn Carol Webb, Texas A&M University