Cecile Wright, Penny Standen and Tina Patel (eds): Black Youth Matters: Transitions from School to Success

Excerpt

In Black Youth Matters, Professors Wright, Standen and Patel describe the circumstances faced by black youth who have been excluded from school and are attempting to transition into adulthood. The authors employed quantitative and qualitative methods to investigate how black youth take advantage of social capital and overcome extreme social disadvantage. The authors argue that social disadvantage and lack of social mobility is exacerbated by exclusion from school, but little is known about the effects of that exclusion on students. The authors described the negative effects of school exclusion by investigating the personal, communal, and societal constraints experienced by the youth. The authors present an interesting look into the negative educational experiences of black youth, and illustrate how the consequences of these experiences are applicable to a wider social context. The book seeks to point out that the social conditions for black youth are different from that of white youth, which the authors argue, should be taken into consideration when creating educational policies. Ultimately, the purpose of Black Youth Matters is to advocate for those students who have been excluded from school by advocating for a discourse about alternative pathways that youth can take to become successful. …