Creating a Sense of Belonging for Black American Students

Abstract

The academic achievement of Black American students can be positively impacted by the educational supports that they receive by educators in school. Black students continue to experience systemic barriers to school, such as harsher school discipline, being at risk of being raised in a single-parent household, and living in poverty, more than any other group. Therefore, it is crucial to inform teachers how to support their unique culmination of challenges. To support Black American students in school, teachers must provide a sense of belonging, which includes cultural competence, development of support systems, affirmations, and positive messages. This chapter presents obstacles for Black American students and strategies for teachers to create an educational environment in which Black American students feel a sense of belonging.