Keeping Black Boys Out of Special Education [Paperback]

Dr. Jawanza Kunjufu (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2005

This critical analysis looks at the disproportionate number of African American males in special education. Arguing that the problem is race and gender driven, questions covered include Why does Europe send more females to special education? Why does America lead the world in giving children Ritalin? Is there a relationship between sugar, Ritalin, and cocaine? and Is there a relationship between special education and prison? More than 100 strategies to help teachers and parents keep black boys in the regular classroom, such as revising teacher expectations, increasing parental involvement, changing teaching styles from a left-brain abstract approach to a right-brain hands-on approach, redoing the curriculum, understanding the impact of mass media, and fostering healthy eating habits.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Jawanza Kunjufu is the author of 23 books, including the Countering the Conspiracy to Destroy Black Boys series, Black Students. Middle Class Teachers, Satan, I’m Taking Back My Health, and State of Emergency. He lives in Chicago.

Product Details

• Paperback: 200 pages
• Publisher: African American Images (May 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0974900028
• ISBN-13: 978-0974900025
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #344,990 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Full of good advice about ALL boys and special education, June 20, 2006

By 

DWD "DWD's Reviews" (Indianapolis, IN) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Keeping Black Boys Out of Special Education (Paperback)

While Jawanza Kunjufu, an author of nearly two dozen books, writes primarily for an African-American audience, this book is full of good observations about boys in special education in general.

There is a growing concern about the number of boys in special education as compared to girls. Kunjufu joins more established authors such as Christina Hoff Sommers ('The War Against Boys')and Michal Guiran ('Boys and Girls Learn Differently') in pointing out that there is something wrong out there in the world of education as far as boys are concerned.

Kunjufu gives wonderful advice about the questions parents should ask if they are brought in to the school to discuss placing their student into special education. His suggestions include signing nothing until you completely understand it, insisting on seeing what modifications have been done up to this point (unfortunately, some teachers have the reputation of referring every student who does not learn quickly from that teacher's ONE teaching style for special education services) and asking for a different assessment test (it is your right) - scores can vary widely from one test to the next.

His best advice comes in the area of the IEP, or Individualized Education Plan. All special education students must have one and most are vague. He insists on specificity and the book is worth the purchase price just for this chapter alone - both for the prospective special education parent and the special education teacher.

Kunjufu's target audience is African-American, as I've already said. I am not, so some passages were not really aimed at me. I was not comfortable with Kunjufu's seemingly equating inner-city poverty with African-American culture in general. As he points out in the beginning of the book, that this is a stereotype. However, he reinforces that stereotype over and over again. It could be that he is really targeting that segment of the African-American population... Like I said, I don't know.

Regardless of my comfort level with certain passages, this is a must read if your student is being referred for special edcuation services. It is a quick and practical read with a clear table of contents to get you quickly to the IEP and Parent Empowerment sections and room for notes in the back.

I give this book a grade of A

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Where are the Solutions? asks a former special educator, January 5, 2009

By 

Hannah Page (Cambridge, Massachusetts) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Keeping Black Boys Out of Special Education (Paperback)

Kunjufu sheds light on an incredibly important social problem in our public schools: the overplacement of black boys in special education classes, yet I felt overall that he succumbs to the same problem that he blames others of in the opening of his book, he presents no real solutions! I commend Mr. Kunjufu for writing a bold book for a larger audience and if this book brings any positive attention to this issue, he should be applauded.

First, let me address many of the positive points that he addresses. I must add as a caveat, however, that nearly all of his advice is becoming mainstream knowledge in public schools. He often treats this material as if it is revolutionary and never thought of before. He explains that classrooms must be designed for boys, which is rarely true in female dominated classrooms. (82% of elementary teachers are female.) Multiple intelligence training is also essential to ensure that boys' (and all learners) are being addressed. Developmental differences between genders should be incorporated into literacy lessons.

Perhaps my biggest critique of this book is its generalization of all black boys having the same needs. By making this assumption, we must assume that all black families are the same and that communities, schools, socioeconomic status make no difference. He does acknowledge this, but then returns to simple models and charts that reinforce the similarities of all black boys. Many of my black male special education students did not like rap music or sports, and taking the individual out of teaching is very dangerous.

I do agree in one of his suggestions, that we need more black male teachers. How do we encourage more black men to teach? By berating white women who are filling the gap, we are accomplishing nothing!

Other criticims, don't read on if you liked the book or expect to - His tone is often dogmatic and condescending towards teachers, he includes religion as a solution and advocates having Bibles in the classroom!, brings in faulty arguments about links between nutrition and education, defends OJ Simpson, and uses loud screaming fonts to make his point.

Not a scholarly read, but does bring attention to an atrocious social phenomenon that must be understood and stopped! Hopefully our new president can help get us on the right track.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars PLEASE READ THIS BOOK!!!, July 7, 2009

By 

RRobinson "NJ, MOM" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Keeping Black Boys Out of Special Education (Paperback)

I purchased Dr. Kunjufu book "Keeping Black Boys Out of Special Education" when my son African Amercican entered kindergarten. My research began after I received several complaints from my son's teacher of his behavior. This book is a must have if you are raising a African American boy. Dr. K provides information on the statistics of a large percentage young black boys attending special education programs and being prescribed medication; such as Retalin to help them focus in school. According to the statistics there exist a larger % of AA boys in Special Ed courses than white children and female children. Subsequently, to reading this book my son's teacher suggested that I have my son evaluated and when I refused she politely insinuated that my son needed to be evaluated so that he could be prescribed medication in order for him to be calm during school hours. Dr. K explains how such medication can ultimately lead our son's into a behavior of drug use in their later years, leading to a life of crime and drug addiction. We must be aware of the psychological traps that are being set for our son, please do not listen to the schools. In many cases this behavior can be corrected simply by placing your child into sports programs, establishing homework skills, reading with your child, limiting and screening television programs. I have read many of Dr. K books; such as Countering the Conspiracy to Destroy Black Boys, Developing Positive Self- Images & Discipline in Black Children and Motivating & Preparing Black Youth for Success. I am so grateful to Dr. J; my son is now eight years old and he has calm down so much without the special education programs or medication. Also, I should mention there was never an academic issue, just behavior. I saturated my son's after school hours with sports, reading, church activity and eliminated all TV time during the week (took SpongeBob out totally). Please do not misunderstand what I am saying some boys need special need programs; but Dr. K will help you make that determination and find other alternatives and not rely strictly on the advice of the teachers and the school staff. Such information provided by Dr. K helps AA parents to educate themselves on such processes, so that you provide the best possible education for your children. I am a single AA mom raising a my son in a difficult environment and I need all the help I can get...thank you Dr. K (I'm also purchasing "Raising Black Boys")