Beating the Odds: Raising Academically Successful African American Males

A great book to get if you have a child of African-American ethnicity who may seem to think he is at an disadvantage because of his environment or lack of parental support. It has different quotes from different parents that allow the reader to maybe gain a different perspective on parenthood or even the duty of raising a child by yourself.

Not only is this book full of valuable information , it is also an easy read. If you are a parent, but especially if you are the parent of an African American male, this book gives clear guidance as to what steps are necessary to promote academic success. Along with guidance on what to do, the book also provides help in identifying strategies to avoid certain obstacles particular to African American males.

The principles may seem obvious (e.g., read to your children, listen to them, rely on community resources, etc.), but the authors do an excellent job showing how our modern culture distracts us from the tried and true--and what we've lost as a result.In addition to interviews with parents of the 60 UMBC Meyerhoff Scholars, the authors' interviews with grandparents showed how important it is to have a family that values learning and excellence. Whether you come from a rich family with multiple degrees, or are poor and the first high school graduate in your family, a key to academic success is being around those who value it. As a white male and new father, I was inspired by the book and reminded that good parenting is color blind. I also agree with the authors that if Black males are to achieve academic success, they must be exposed to the many examples that abound already, but are often overlooked by our society.