Book Description
Abstract: There are a number of African American students attending public schools situated within lower income communities who achieve academic success, despite encountering various challenges. The purpose of this qualitative study was to gain insight into the internal and external protective factors that served to mitigate risk in the lives of academically resilient African American students. Moreover, an examination of the process by which these students achieved academic success despite factors that typically place students "at-risk" or "educationally vulnerable" for academic failure was the goal of this research inquiry. Twenty-one graduating seniors across four high schools were interviewed as part of this phenomenological research investigation. Several themes emerged that supported existing literature on academic resilience and African American students. All participants discussed the impact of both internal and external protective factors across home, schools, and communities that led to academic success. In addition, the majority of respondents reported that in their respective schools, education was valued, responsibilities were often shared among others, and positive and supportive relationships were encouraged across students, teachers, and school staff. Furthermore, participants discussed the process of being resilient, specifically encountering various challenges, but working to achieve their academic goals.
