Understanding African American Male Perceptions of Suspension: A Narrative Study

The purpose of this narrative study was to gain an in-depth understanding of the perceptions of African American males and suspension in grades 9-12. The participants in this study were able to reach deeply and share their real life experiences about their troubles from elementary to high school; their personal home lives; the challenges and struggles that they faced; their attributions of suspensions; and their overall perceptions of suspension. Participants were asked to share their most memorable childhood experiences and their three most memorable suspensions. The findings revealed that attributes cannot always be seen or perceived by the students themselves, nor the educators that students interact with, yet they have deep impact on students' experiences. An in-depth understanding of the perceptions and attributions is needed in order to help minimize suspensions. Also, this study reveals the importance of training needed to help both staff and administration understand attributions that result in unfavorable behavior that often lead to suspension.