Book Reviewed
by Michael D. Royster,
Houston Graduate school of theology
Black Boys Can Make It: How They Overcome the Obstacles to University in the UK and USA
Cheron Byfield
Ttrentham Books, 2008.
One of the greatest problems with education in the United States and the UK is its overall refusal to admit its collective failure as an institution when it comes to the educa-tion of black boys. Advocates of status quo solutions have denied admitting to being clueless regarding producing equal results in terms of the education of black youth. Black boys also have been accustomed to having lower expectations placed upon them, and have been regarded as inferior in most fields of study. Black male underachievement has received high publicity. However, the most profound statement the author made in the text is “little is known about black boys who do under achieve academic success” (3). The book serves the purpose of exposing a common testament of the black male experience in terms of succeeding academically while navigating through contrary terrains, while dispelling cultural myths that have contributed to their reception of low expectations that are contributing to the negative stereotypical images.
Data was gathered and analyzed for the subject’s interest in cultural studies, intergroup relations, education and stratification, teachers, parents of black pupils, clergy, faith based organization staff, and community volunteers such as the Big Brothers program. The author’s perspective is that much of UK and USA society is unaware of the dimensions and the concrete intensity that black pupils endure from a variety of sources and therefore black males must overachieve in order to be equal.
The unique feature of this book is that it demonstrates how unfavorable conditions affecting the black male’s education are an international problem. Therefore the book provides practical solutions that are low in financial cost and also preventive of high liability costs, for which society pays a high price. The author challenges the false depiction that heavily blames parents due to their lack of visible involvement, by acknowledging that “little research has been carried out into the nature of Black parental involvement and still less on the parents of educationally successful black boys” (59). One would think that current ethnic research would have thoroughly covered this topic.
This book is applicable for all disadvantaged students seeking methods for overcoming the role strain that is experienced by the robust drive for academic success while maintaining acceptance from anti-academic peer groups. Beyond their youth, the author claims that young black men are compelled to learn the etiquette of a leisure class world, balanced with street intelligence. “Playing the game” is a necessary skill for both young black males and for all marginalized people living on the fringes of society.
In line with other studies, the author shows that there is a significant correlation between religion and academic success among black males. Much can be attributed to spiritual disciplines that are transferable to the academic disciplines. The author concluded that, “religion provided a psychological and social framework within which black boys could make sense of their purpose in life, whilst providing them with emotional and social support to maximize their potential” (100). Spiritual formation facilitators are resourceful in contributing towards the black male’s educational progress. In addition, a gross disregard for basic human needs implicitly teaches that God is not concerned about the additional struggles placed upon black males, the sub-middle class, nor persons who face racism as an obstacle towards fulfilling the greatest human need of self-actualization.
The book is of great value for active and prospective primary and secondary teachers seeking further understanding of the structural concerns and challenges that accompany the teaching profession.
Reversing the underachievement of black boys must be sincere because the transparency of false pretense is bound to nullify any attempts toward leading any human creature toward the path of success.
