Academic Success Levers for African American Males

Last week I was a presenter at the National Association of Independent Schools, “People of Color Conference”, in San Diego, California. A diverse group of educators from across the country gathered to learn about best practices in diversity and multicultural practice. My presentation focused on academic success strategies for African American boys and young men. The presentation generated lively discussion. Drawing from the literature and my own experiences working with families and schools, I focused on 5 success levers that parents and educators can “pull” to improve academic achievement. I encouraged participants to urgently assess and intervene using these levers. Here is a review.

1. Consistently High Expectations – Parents and educators who have consistently high expectations influence their children/students to have high expectations for themselves. The opposite is also true. Frequently articulate high expectations and make sure that your child/student understands that you want his best effort. It is never too late, but the earlier the better.
2. Focus on Academic Skills – While good grades are important, what is more important is that your child/student develops the right academic skills for the next level. Mastery of basic academic skills is necessary to be able to do abstract thinking skills in middle school, which is necessary to do the inferential skills in high school, etc.
3. Social Skills – Just like the world of work, students are expected to work effectively with different groups. Quality friendships reduce the chance for feeling isolated or depressed. Students are also expected to work effectively with adult authority figures.
4. Racial Socialization – Help your child/student understand how to effectively navigate racial and gender stereotypes as early as middle school. Incorporate positive images in their everyday environment via books, media, etc. Talk with them about current events effecting African American males.
5. Social-Emotional-Mental Health – Intervene early if there is evidence that your child/student is having social, emotional, or behavioral difficulty. Know that ignoring issues with attention/oppositional behavior/depression, will only lead to those issues getting worse. They also serve as a barrier to learning. Consult with a professional if social-emotional-mental health issues interfere with your child/students day to day functioning at school or home.

Of course, these levers work best when there is a positive parent-teacher relationship. Frequent communication and home-school teamwork goes a long way in establishing strong academic success patterns.