Preparing the Way: A Qualitative Study of High‐Achieving African American Males and the Role of the Family

Abstract

Employed qualitative methods to examine the role of the family in the academic success of very high-achieving African American males. Findings revealed a complex tapestry of family processes and contexts involved in each youth's journey to outstanding academic achievement. Specifically, the combined importance of parental-determined academic engagement, strict discipline, nurturance, and community connectedness appeared to counteract potentially negative contextual influences of neighborhood, peers, schools, and society. The qualitative findings tell a multifaceted, rich, and compelling story of the pathways to academic success for Black males, and highlight the need for culture-specific and ecologically based conceptualization, research, and intervention approaches.

Parental Engagement and Contact in the Academic Lives of College Students

“…Parental involvement in higher education includes engagement in the college choice process, paying for college, offering support to students, and negotiating relationships with campus personnel (Daniel, Evans, & Scott, 2001). Research suggests that this engagement, encouragement, and support is associated with positive 326 outcomes like adjustment to college, academic achievement, persistence, healthier parent-child interactions, decreased stress, emotional health and well-being, and higher educational expectations among college students (Barnett, 2004;Herndon & Hirt, 2004;Hurtado, Carter, & Spuler, 1996;Kalsner & Pistole, 2003;Kenny & Stryker, 1996;Maton, Hrabowski, & Greif, 1998;Ratelle, Larose, Guay, & Senecal, 2005;Rodriguez, Mira, Myers, Morris, & Cardoza, 2003;Trusty, 1998;Wintre & Yaffe, 2000).…”

Exploring the lives of Asian American men: Racial identity, male role norms, gender role conflict, and prejudicial attitudes.

“…It may be that the parents' determination, participation in the lives of men, discipline, nurturance, and a sense of connectedness to the community take on added meaning for men who have to act against countervailing effects of racism and masculinity (Maton et al, 1998). Hence, for African American men, masculinity may be a shared experience with the family and community.…”

Children’s Mental Health

“…youth at intake. The trend increase in number of connections for minorities is supported by research indicating the role of positive family and community supports in facilitating minority well-being (Sachs-Ericson, 2004;Maton, Hrabowski III & Greif, 1998).…”