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Essay On The Underrepresentation Of African American Teachers

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Recommended: Racial inequality in education sociology

The underrepresentation of African American teachers in U.S. schools is a longstanding issue that has significant implications for student outcomes. This dissertation will explore the historical context of African American education and teachers, highlight the persistent disparities in education outcomes between African American students and their peers, and examine the impact of the underrepresentation of African American teachers on student outcomes. Despite decades of progress toward greater diversity in the teaching profession, African American teachers remain vastly underrepresented in comparison to their white counterparts. This thematic concern is of particular importance because research has shown that students of color, particularly African American students, benefit academically and socially from having teachers who share …show more content…

This paper will discuss the importance of understanding the impact of teacher diversity on student outcomes, including the role of teacher expectations and cultural competency, and the impact of role models and mentorship. This history of the underrepresentation of African American teachers and its impacts on student outcomes is a multifaceted topic that requires careful examination and consideration. By exploring this history, we can gain a deeper understanding of the ongoing challenges and opportunities facing African American students, teachers, and the education system.

The history of African American education in the United States is a complex and often painful story shaped by centuries of racism, discrimination, and oppression. During the era of slavery in the United States, African slaves were systematically denied the right to education. According to the historian Carol Berkin, "slave codes in most Southern states specifically prohibited slaves from learning to read or write, believing that education would make slaves discontented with their lot and could lead to slave revolts" (Berkin 115). Any

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In February of 2007 Heather Andrea Williams published a novel titled Self-Taught: African American Education in Slavery and Freedom. In chapter six, Williams specifically focuses on African-American’s teaching in freed people’s schools. Williams makes the claim that African-American’s entered the classroom as teachers, but not without some battles to overcome. I had always been taught that in some (most?) places it was illegal to teach African-Americans, more specifically slaves, to read.

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Ever since then people have seen African Americans as lesser people. But on the flip side it also is not the African Americans’ fault for being forced out of their homes and towns to come to a new place and be whipped and put work by “white masters.” What I’m trying to get at is to get perspective on the people and children you are surrounded by. By doing that you, as a teacher, should be willing to push yourself to fit into someone else’s shoes. To not discount who your children and families are that you interact with constantly in a classroom.

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‘A Talk to Teachers’ by James Baldwin published on December 21, 1963 in New York was a message to teachers on how they are allowing the injustices of African-Americans to continue through the educational system. Baldwin ultimately wants the prejudice to end through the educational system. His tone tends to change but wants to evoke a sense of urgency to make teachers fix up the educational systems’ views on African-Americans and the false history that is being taught about them. Baldwin ultimately builds his credibility by using his own personal experience from going through the same educational system the present children go through today Baldwin starts off by listing injustices within the treatment of African-Americans ranging from when slavery

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