Black Students. Middle Class Teachers. [Paperback]

Dr. Jawanza Kunjufu (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2002

This compelling look at the relationship between the majority of African American students and their teachers provides answers and solutions to the hard-hitting questions facing education in today's black and mixed-race communities. Are teachers prepared by their college education departments to teach African American children? Are schools designed for middle-class children and, if so, what are the implications for the 50 percent of African Americans who live below the poverty line? Is the major issue between teachers and students class or racial difference? Why do some of the lowest test scores come from classrooms where black educators are teaching black students? How can parents negotiate with schools to prevent having their children placed in special education programs? Also included are teaching techniques and a list of exemplary schools that are successfully educating African Americans.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Kunjufu, an educational consultant and author of several nonfiction books on African American affairs, offers another in the wide array of recently published books on why the educational system is failing minority children. Kunjufu's book examines why black children, more than 50 percent of whom live below the poverty line, are still lagging behind in educational achievement. He cites a variety of factors, including negative peer pressure, lack of parental involvement, school funding discrepancies, and even genetics. But much of the problem, he believes, stems from the fact that 83 percent of the elementary-school teacher population is made up of white, middle-class females. Low teacher expectations, mismatched teaching and learning styles, lack of time, tracking, and an irrelevant Eurocentric curriculum are, he claims, at the root of the problem. In the last chapter, Kunjufu provides examples of successful programs aimed at closing the achievement gap between blacks and the rest of the school-age population. While there are many books on educational improvement, this one provides a fresh view from a different perspective and is recommended for academic and public libraries.
Mark Bay, Cumberland Coll. Lib., Williamsburg, KY
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Jawanza Kunjufu is the author of 22 books, including "Adam Where Are You?", "Satan, I'm Taking Back My Health", and "State of Emergency". He lives in Chicago.

Product Details

• Paperback: 200 pages
• Publisher: African American Images (September 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0913543810
• ISBN-13: 978-0913543818
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #96,258 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Middle Class Teachers-Shaken Not Stirred, June 3, 2006

By 

David R. Lavender - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Black Students. Middle Class Teachers. (Paperback)

Jawanza Kunjufu is a prolific author and lecturer who has made his mark on the educational reform movement by concentrating on factors that influence African American achievement. This installment focuses on a regularly occurring relationship in urban schools-that of middle class teachers and black students. Kunjufu leads this book off with a list of trends that impact African American achievement. These range from disparities in spending per pupil between affluent and non-affluent districts to the number of African Americans in penal institutions. He includes a revealing multi-cultural quiz, an examination of middle class schools and their practices concerning Black students, a detailed analysis of white female teachers and a relevantblack curriculum to consider. I felt imprortant pressure on myself as an educational leader to internalize this piece so that I can be more effective in my urban school district as I work with children of color. Any educator struggling with our achievement gap between those who have and those who have not should definitly read this and other books by this author.(such as Keeping Black Boys Out Of Special Education.)

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ** A Must For Every Urban Educator **, June 10, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Black Students. Middle Class Teachers. (Paperback)

I highly recommend this book by Jawanza Kunjufu. I've taught in the urban setting and this book unlocks a lot of behind the scenes info that I was not aware of. As always, he shares lots of research for continued study.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars inspiring, December 10, 2005

By 

H. Pagliughi "hpagliughi" (California) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Black Students. Middle Class Teachers. (Paperback)

if I hadn't started reading this book later in the evening, I would have read it cover to cover in one sitting, but I stopped in the middle to sleep! I read this book prior to entering a teaching credential program, and am really glad that I did, because it has given me a framework to evaluate my teacher education as I go through it to make sure I learn the skills I need to teach in my neck of the woods.

I feel really empowered by it. He gives lots of references to other books and organizations. I feel really excited and inspired!