A heartfelt and forthright assessment of the all-too-often daunting task facing parents of black students. Hale parallels the racial profiling of law enforcement with current educational assumptions that put black children at a decided disadvantage, facing educators' low expectations and indifference. Educational reform efforts that focus on parental involvement are doomed to failure when so many parents of children attending public schools lack the education, time, energy, and resources to effectively monitor the school and advocate on behalf of their children. Hale relates her own frustrating experiences with her son's private school and not being part of the 'club' that knows the ins and outs and how to get around the rules. Hale offers a detailed strategy that focuses on the classroom and advocates coordinated community-support services and enhanced leadership roles for principals. An innovative and important book for parents and educators concerned about educating black children. Booklist In a wide but welcome swing of the pendulum, Hale... fixes her gaze directly upon schools-the teachers and the children. Here is a fresh and feisty look at the miseducation of African-American children,... a 'call for action directed to the organizations controlled by middle-class African Americans, not to beleaguered individuals themselves'... Hale offers a solution that recognizes the school as the impetus for inner-city African-American children to achieve upward mobility, relying on help from parents, churches, community volunteers and teachers. Her model attends to those differences between 'Afro cultural' themes and 'mainstream' ones, which influence the varying academic achievement of African-American children compared with white children's achievement.'. Publishers Weekly In this challenging book, Hale cites persistent teacher shortages, inadequate materials and facilities, and the lack of accountability among administrators as factors contributing to continual academic failure among low-income children in predominantly black public schools. To counter this situation, she proposes the concepts of 'being in the family, creating the village, and striving for the beloved community.'. Library Journal I have never read a book that has had as much impact on me as a parent and educator as did Learning While Black.
Deborah Godwin Starks ET Clark Academy Hale's well thought out suggestions put Learning While Blackat the forefront of discussions around educational reform.
Jenny Lee Black Parenting Today Hale's work not only can serve as an 'educational bible' for teachers and administrators who are serious about equalizing education between black and white students, but it can also assist parents and members of the community... a profound text that raises many issues legislators, administrators, educators, parents and the like fail to notice.
Robbin L. Melton Frost Illustrated This is an important book that should be read by teachers and all those concerned with education policy. Sage Race Relations Abstracts