The Trouble With Black Boys

For many years to come, race will continue to be a source of controversy and conflict in American society. For many of us it will continue to shape where we live, pray, go to school, and socialize. We cannot simply wish away the existence of race or racism, but we can take steps to lessen the ways in which the categories trap and confine us. Educators, who should be committed to helping young people realize their intellectual potential as they make their way toward adulthood, have a responsibility to help them find ways to expand identities related to race so that they can experience the fullest possibility of all that they may become. In this brutally honest—yet ultimately hopeful— book Pedro Noguera examines the many facets of race in schools and society and reveals what it will take to improve outcomes for all students. From achievement gaps to immigration, Noguera offers a rich and compelling picture of a complex issue that affects all of us.

The Author ix Introduction xi Part One: The Student Experience 1 1. Joaquin’s Dilemma: Understanding the Link Between Racial Identity and School-Related Behaviors 3 2. The Trouble with Black Boys: The Impact of Social and Cultural Forces on the Academic Achievement of African American Males 17 3. And What Will Become of Children Like Miguel Fernández?/Y Qué Pasará Con Jóvenes Como Miguel Fernández? Education, Immigration, and the Future of Latinos in the United States 43 4. How Listening to Students Can Help Schools to Improve 61 Part Two: The Search for Equity 73 5. Latino Youth: Immigration, Education, and the Future 75 6. Preventing and Producing Violence: A Critical Analysis of Responses to School Violence 83 7. Schools, Prisons, and Social Implications of Punishment: Rethinking Disciplinary Practices 111 8. Racial Politics and the Elusive Quest for Excellence and Equity in Education 131 Part Three: The Schools We Need 159 9. Reclaiming the Promise of Public Education With Alan Blankstein 161 10. Standards for What? Accountability for Whom? Rethinking Standards-Based Reform in Public Education 171 11. Racial Isolation, Poverty, and the Limits of Local Control as a Means for Holding Public Schools Accountable 189 12. Transforming Urban Schools Through Investments in Social Capital 217 Notes and References 251 Epilogue: Joaquin’s Dilemma Revisited 307 Index 311 Discussion Questions 323