Diversity and Education(H. Richard Milner)

Black Males in Schools

1. Teachers and students must envision life beyond current situation.

Black males need to have a vision that their future situations can be better than their current situations. When students realize that they might be struggling and not succeeding currently, but it is quite likely for them to turn their lives around, they are more likely to work harder.

2. Understanding the self in relationship to others.

Both teachers and students need to know themselves in relation to others. Both need to examine own and others' histories.

3. Speaking possibility, not destruction.

Black males students respect their teachers when their teachers respect them. Empower students to speak possibilities into their own lives. Use good examples: Working in a bank vs. working for McDonald's".

4. Caring and demonstrating care.

Show interests in students. Compliment students. Allow them to make up work. Attend student activities. High expectations are necessary to help black students to emancipate themselves and to move beyond their current situations.

5. Changing the mind, changing the actions.

Teachers need to change our negative minds about black students.
Black male students need to change their negative perceptions and views about themselves.