Educating our Black Children

Though I did my book review on "Handbook of Research on Literacy and Diversity I found interest in the book Educating our Black Children New Directions and Radical Approach. This book is of interested because not only does is focus on an aspect of mentoring, it also looks at disparities faced by the African American community in regards to the education system. Since we are not assigned 2 book reports I decided to do a mini book report because I feel that this is an issues everyone should atleast acknowledge is happening.

Educating our Black Children: New Direction and Radical Approaches

This book was selected due to the fact that as an African American male I feel that it is my duty to explore and educate myself on the constant suppression of my people. Though continuing to educate myself on this issue, I am no stranger to the struggles faced. Coming up I witnessed the many of the same problems Majors speaks on in his book. With this said, I hope to learn more about the struggle faced, but also ways of contributing to solve this ongoing issue. Having said this, as many have looked at in the past Major focuses on the failure to incorporate blacks within our education system, while doing this he and other scholars produce ways of correcting these issues.

Major starts his book by explaining to his readers the current state of blacks within the education system. He looks at the United States as well as the United Kingdom, comparing them to see how two totally different systems may face the same issues when speaking on African Americans in education. In comparison he finds both systems face many of the same factors such as black exclusion, racism in schools, treatment differences, and much more that explain why there are disparities in the system occur. Out of these factors Major believes that the deep history of racism in society produces the inequality in education. Other scholars agree with his point of the deep imbedded history of racism, but also believe that others factors contribute to the gap within the system. As the book continues it goes into detail explaining how these factors contribute to the limitations that are put on black students in education.

Major continues in part I of his book by looking at ways to tackle historical and contemporary education problems. It is here where the collection of essays chosen for part one focuses on policies related to education that continue to hold black students back. After reading part one it forces its readers to look at these polices and attempt to make a difference. One example of making a difference can be seen in the second essay of part one by Maud Blair. In the essay she explains that often times in school curriculum there is little representation of black culture. She says, “one of the concerns that black students have is that there histories are excluded from what is considered to be valuable knowledge in the school curriculum. Not only is it excluded, moreover, but what exists is sometimes is sometimes found to be eurocentric or racist.”

In parts II,III, and IV the book continues to speak upon issues of inequality in the education environment. As issues emerge the book then provides theory and plans of action in order to solve these problems.

When looking this book it provides a model for society that specifies how to do things right when dealing with Africans Americans in education. For years African Americans have suffered from constant inequality, discrimination, and racism within the education system. As time continues and our society gradually rights its wrongs, Major and other scholars contribute a system that works to better the experience of African Americans in the education system. An example of this can be seen when Major explains shows how the implementation of programs, mentoring, and more will increase the likelihood of achievement amongst the African American students. As success continues we must continue to use the model that Major has provided us because the fight for equity within education is an ongoing issue.


Educating our Black Children: New Direction and Radical Approaches edited by Richard Majors. London and New York: Routledge Publishing: 2001. 271 pp.