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Closing the Achievement Gap without Widening a Racial One
Most African-Americans are decendants from captive Africans held in the U.S.A from 1619 to 1865 1619, the first slaves are brought to Virginia by a Dutch ship that sells them as servants 1641, Massachusetts is the first colony to legalize slavery 1700, All colonies had slavery (2% servants in the North and 25% plantation workers in the South (around 10% of population)
further
The Black population is still facing detriments in the United States, revealed in the so called achievement gap On average, white students outperform black students (in primary, middle and high school) The average grade of a black student is a C plus, while the average mark of whites is a B plus
Analysis
Some previous Theories about Achievement Gap:
Achievement Gap is caused by cultural behavior, e.g. black students mocking fellow hard working black students for acting white
Charles Murray (Co-Author of The Bell Curve): Achievement Gap due to lower inherited
Fergusons Theory
Lower academic performance of African-Americans is caused mainly by cultural reasons
Iceberg Model:
African-Americans had to unite several times throughout history to achieve equality and banish slavery, which has led to a more collectivistic culture than the white society
Dr. Ferguson
of
Already in his childhood, he strived to become someone who can help the community, instead going for a popular job or a successful career.
Self-Fulfilling Prophecy
Due to stereotyping and cultural generalization, the problem of the self-fulfilling prophecy can arrise
Society expects blacks to be less successful/ criminal, therefore many young AfricanAmericans give in to this image instead o fighting it
Dr. Ferguson
Educational background
Economics
Quantify everything
Social movement: Toward Excellence with Equity Strong community with peer cultures African-American Stereotype: New Growth Opportunities Future benefits
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4. McKinsey & Company Analysis states: The persistence of these educational achievement gaps imposes on the United States the economic equivalent of a permanent national recession.