Moving Beyond Walls: Making a Space for Black Males in Teacher Education

• In Event: Male Teachers of Color and the Remaking of the Teaching Force

Abstract

As per recent statistics on US teachers, over 83% of public school teachers are white females—while only a mere 2% of the teaching force are Black males (Ingersoll, Merrill, & Stuckey, 2014). Ironically, Black males remain amongst the bottom rungs of student achievement in our public schools. There have been several initiatives focused on recruiting Black males to the classroom as teachers. However, much of their success has been minimal at best. Why are Black males not successful in the teaching profession? What are the challenges that they face and how does this impact their pursuit of and success in the field of education?

Author

• Darrell C. Hucks, Keene State College