| Educational and social inequities prevalent in American society have had a profound impact on our African American communities as well as other people of color. The main issue centered on the assumption that African American students were consistently lagging behind their white counterparts in reading and math from year to year. Consequently, the result was a problem nationwide. Some argued teachers had problems teaching African American students. Others argued the problems were with the parents. Still others said the problem was an economic issue; many parents were poor and did not provide their children with the proper health maintenance, including food and nutrition. While others argued, the problem was much broader. Our racist and classist society devalued the lower class, and the failing educational system was a reflection of this practice. The purpose of this study was the examination of institutional racism and a discussion on teacher's attitudes, perceptions, and behavior and how it influenced the lives and learning of African American students. |
