In higher education, academic disparities exist between African American males and their gender and ethnic counterparts. Furthermore, many institutions struggle to promote African American male persistence beyond matriculation. This study provides insight into how a sample of undergraduate African American males was persisting at a predominantly White institution. Six themes emerged, including (a) exposure to rigorous high school curriculum, (b) feeling encouraged and supported, (c) having a sense of motivation, (d) educational aspirations beyond a bachelor’s degree, (e) involvement in ethnic-based campus organizations, and (f) connecting with minority faculty. The preponderance of findings demonstrates that noncognitive factors are essential to how African American males persist.
The purpose of this qualitative study is to examine factors of persistence for two African American men involved in the Project Empowerment (PE, pseudonym) student organization at a predominantly White institution. The participants are undergraduate student members ofPE, a campus-based organization designed to enhance African American male retention. The researcher conducted interviews with both participants, and analyzed the data verbatim uncovering these four themes: (a) college preparedness, (b) high aspirations and goals, (c) social connections and relationships, and (d) growth through student organizational commitment. The study found that components of PE support African American male persistence. The findings implicate the need for ethnic-based programs for African American men, and for institutions to encourage program participation among this student group.
In reviewing the book, Making Meaning of Whiteness, by Alice McIntyre, I discussed the author’s examination of whiteness through the lenses of white female, student teachers. I underscored how McIntyre employed a Participatory Action Research methodology (drawing on feminist theory), as a way to understand how her participants made meaning of whiteness. The study’s findings reveal that for the participants, their “whiteness” is normal, which may serve to hinder their capacity for developing culturally responsive teaching practices.
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