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"Multiplication Is for White People": Raising Expectations for Other People’s Children Paperback – March 5, 2013

by Lisa Delpit (Author)
4.0 out of 5 stars 59 customer reviews
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  • "Multiplication Is for White People": Raising Expectations for Other People’s Children
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Product Details

  • Paperback: 256 pages
  • Publisher: The New Press; Reprint edition (March 5, 2013)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1595588981
  • ISBN-13: 978-1595588982
  • Product Dimensions: 0.5 x 5.5 x 8.2 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (59 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #12,216 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Top Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsInsightful examination of the crisis in urban education...
By Patrick J. Salem on January 19, 2014
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
There is a moment early in "Multiplication Is for White People" where Delpit perfectly illustrates the problem that many parents feel when interacting with school officials. Her daughter is beginning to play softball and after one of the first practices, the coach tells the assembled parents to work on 'softball' skills with their daughters at home. Delpit confesses a complete ignorance of the game, knowing only bits of the nomenclature, certainly no mastery of the complex physical and mental nuance of the athleticism involved. She recognizes in that moment how parents feel when they're told to help their children with homework. Delpit writes compellingly that the problems of urban education go beyond whether the schools are public, private, or charter, run by for profit companies or union teachers: Poverty, housing uncertainty, and the lack of security at home are never discussed by policy makers who think we can test our way out of the problem.
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3.0 out of 5 starsGood Ideas, Little Implementation
By adrevels on April 7, 2015
Format: Paperback
"Multiplication is for White People" was my first book by Lisa Delpit.

The title provokes lots of discussion; everyone who saw me reading it wanted to discuss the book. Also, it's reminiscent of something a student told me. ("Miss, grammar is for white people; I just speak.")

The theory sections are well-written. Delpit asks hard questions and uses research to support her opinions. She also brings up great ideas to implement in the classroom.

However, Delpit admits she is biased and angry. The cynicism is seen in multiple places even though she has hope for African-American children. Also, a lot of her practical discussion veer into anecdotes. While these can be inspiring, they're not helpful in implementing the theory.
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5.0 out of 5 starsDon't be put off by the title
By E. Johnson on March 25, 2012
Format: Hardcover Verified Purchase
About a quarter ways in, Lisa Delpit pretty much nails the matter:

"My point is that children come to us having learned different things in their four-to-five years at home. For those who come to us knowing how to count to one hundred and to read, we need to teach them problem solving and how to tie their shoes. And for those who already know how to clean up spilled paint, tie their shoes, prepare meals, and comfort a crying sibling, we need to make sure that we teach them the school knowledge that they haven't learned at home. Unfortunately, though, different types of [knowledge] are not equally valued in the school setting."

Said differently, the need is for public education to become ever more capable to absorb and continually learn from all the variety kids show up with at school each day.

(Where Delpit uses the word "skill," I prefer the word "knowledge" for the simple reason "skill" arguably is a pejorative in corporate-speak used to enforce managerial hierarchy: executives have knowledge, worker bees have skill. As knowledgeable worker bees can be upsetting to corporatism, knowledgeable students and teachers can be upsetting to educratism.)
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4.0 out of 5 starsLets Wake Up. Thanks Lisa for your support.
By Thalia M. Williams on December 11, 2013
Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase
Vital information. But the heart of the matter is policy, which controls social circumstances faced by our teachers and students daily. We need to revisit whether parents have the adequate resources to raise their children with fidelity.
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3.0 out of 5 starsI expected more
By Ready Mommy on January 10, 2013
Format: Hardcover
I am all over the place on Lisa Delpit's latest book on educating "poor black children," probably because Delpit is a little all over the place. She makes a plethora of excellent points, but in a fashion that is overly wordy (I know, pot calling the kettle black here; wait, I didn't mean it that way!), puzzlingly organized, and admittedly angry ("I am left in my more cynical moments with the thought that poor black children have become the vehicle by which rich white people give money to their friends."). I found myself craving ease, warmth, and humor. Of course, I also found myself nodding along with frequency and learning a great deal about a subject of serious urgency. After giving my mixed feelings extensive thought, I decided that much of the problem is that Delpit's book isn't a well-reasoned opening salvo, it's a passionate refutation. She responds to those who say African American students disproportionately fail in school because they just aren't as smart as children of other races and come from "a culture of poverty" (and that those who succeed do so only because of unmeritocratic affirmative action). No wonder she's pissed.

OF COURSE African American students are just as "gifted and brilliant" as everyone else (as Delpit ably demonstrates). But even educators who accept racial equality expect less of poor and minority students because of their supposed cultural deficiency. Delpit spends the bulk of the book tackling this point. Essentially, she says that "poor black children . . .Read more ›
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5.0 out of 5 starsSuperb
By xhawg52 on January 3, 2014
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
Another great book from Dr. Delpit. I was especially intrigued by the title and when I read it I understood where it came from. Only a child could come up with something like that. But, sadly enough, it's the adults that make the child feel this way. We have a long way to go before we no longer hear such things from our children. Keep writing Dr. Delpit and I'll keep reading!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

Good product!

Published 23 days ago by E. J Pierre-Pipkin
4.0 out of 5 stars*****

Great insight for urban teachers

Published 1 month ago by michael mazzacane
5.0 out of 5 starsI appreciate this book for giving me perspective on my experiences and...

I am a newly-licensed grade-school teacher. I attended a university that had recently made a public declaration to close the achievement gap in public education between white... Read more

Published 1 month ago by Bio 101
5.0 out of 5 starsRaising the Bar

This book of educational enlightenment exposes historical and social detriments impeding Civil Rights to Equity in education. Read more

Published 1 month ago by brett j. truitt
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

Great read.

Published 2 months ago by uscolb
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

Great book, fast shipping

Published 7 months ago by Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

Fantastic book! Very well written and incredibly informative about the current state of education in the United States.

Published 10 months ago by Nicole LeFort
5.0 out of 5 starsI loved this book!

This is a fantastic book. Lisa Delpit's writing is very informative and easy to understand. I loved this book!!!

Published 13 months ago by Yo Mama
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

Arrived as promised I am totally satisfied. Good read.

Published 13 months ago by Pianki
4.0 out of 5 starsGood book for multicultural education!

Used the book for my doctoral class for a semester. Had read some chapters. Hoping to read the whole of the book sometime soon. Will be part of my library.

Published 14 months ago by Momo

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