By Dr. Erik Hines and Mia Hines
School counselors are in a position to change the narrative and trajectory of African American students. Too often, deficits are highlighted more than strengths, assuming the worst of African American students rather than expecting the best. African American students are overrepresented in special education (Gordon, 2017); yet, underrepresented in gifted education, advanced placement courses, and International Baccalaureate programs (Wright, Ford, & Young, 2017). Moreover, African American students tend to be suspended at higher rates than their other racial peers (Towsend, 2000). Similarly, they experience bias in the classroom via low teacher expectations. Bias and racism play a significant role in how African American students successfully matriculate through the educational pipeline, especially African American males (Grace & Nelson, 2018; Ford & Moore, 2013; Hines et al., 2020; Staats, 2016). However, school counselors can contribute to the success of African American students by engaging in culturally responsive pedagogy. Moreover, the narrative must focus on a strengths-based approach to working with African American students and examining beliefs and bias that could help or hinder this population.
School counselors and educators must focus on the accomplishments achieved by African Americans. For example, Florida State University has a few notable African American Alumni who have achieved monumental success such as Janice Huff, chief meteorologist at WNBC in New York City and Myron Rolle, Rhodes Scholar, Former FSU Football Player, and neurosurgeon at Harvard Medical School. School counselors have a tremendous influence in shaping the college and career trajectory of African American students and can use the aforementioned examples to highlight the achievement and infused this paradigm in their cultural competency tool kit. Through advocating, using counseling skills in individual and group settings, and using a systemic approach to address inequities, school counselors can improve the outcomes and change the narrative of African American students.
Below is a list of resources school counselors can utilize to support African American students in the areas of academic achievement, social/emotional development, college and career readiness, and cultural responsiveness. This resources list is not exhaustive, but it is a starter for school counselors to understand how to support African American students. Finally, we have resources for parents and how school counselors can support African American males.
Resources for Supporting African American Students
Books
- The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
- For White Folks Who Teach in the Hood and the Rest of Yall Too:Reality Pedagogy and Urban Education by Christopher Emdin
- Why are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria by Beverly Daniel Tatum
- African American Students in Urban Schools: Critical Issues and Solutions for Achievement by James L. Moore, III and Chance W. Lewis
- The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander
- Culturally Responsive Teaching: Theory, Research and Practice by Geneva Gay
Documentaries, Movies and TV Shows:
- 13th by Ava Duvernay
- Lean on Me
- A Different World
- Black-ish
- When they See Us by Ava Duvernay
- The Hate U Give
- Get Out
Resources for School Counselors for Discussing Race & Equity with Students
National Museum of African American Culture & History Talking About Race Portal
https://nmaahc.si.edu/learn/talking-about-race
Restorative Justice Practices to reduce or eliminate harsh discipline practices such as in and out of school suspension
https://www.edutopia.org/blog/restorative-justice-resources-matt-davis
Please, I can’t Breathe: How School Counselors After Social Racial Events by Derek Francis
https://www.loom.com/share/314f0f76f0444c248903de8e8e49deaf
This Is Not A Fire Drill: Derek Francis Shares His Playbook For Supporting Students After George Floyd's Murder https://www.mesacloud.com/blog/this-is-not-a-fire-drill-derek-francis-shares-his-playbook-for-supporting-students-after-george-floyd
The 1619 Project
The New York Times aims to reframe the United States history by placing the consequences of slavery and the contributions of Black Americans.
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/08/14/magazine/1619-america-slavery.html
Parent Resources to Talk about Race and Racism
African American Student's College Guide: Your One-Stop Resource for Choosing the Right College, Getting in, and Paying the Bill by Issac Black
Black Families Guide for talking about Racism
White Families Guide for talking about Racism
https://readlikearockstarteaching.com/the-white-families-guide-for-talking-about-racism/
Your Kids Aren’t too Young to Talk about Race: Resource Roundup
https://www.prettygooddesign.org/blog/Blog%20Post%20Title%20One-5new4
Resources on Understanding Black Boys and Men
Books
- The Trouble with Black Boys…And Other Reflections on Race, Equity, and the future of Public Education by Pedro Noguero
- The Envy of the World: On Being a Black Man in America: Ellis Cose
- Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehishi Coates
- African American Male Students in PreK-12 Schools: Informing Research, Policy, and Practice by Chance W. Lewis and James L. Moore, III
- School Counseling for Black Male Student Success in 21st Century Urban Schools by Malik S. Henfield and Ahmad R. Washington
- The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates by Wes Moore
