Beating the Odds: Raising Academically Successful African American Males

by Freeman A. Hrabowski III, Kenneth I. Maton, Geoffrey L. Greif

Book Overview

Today, young Black men are more likely to be killed or sent to prison than to graduate from college. Yet, despite all the obstacles, some are achieving at the highest academic and professional levels.
Beating the Odds tells their remarkable stories and shows us what African American families have done to raise academically successful sons, sons who are among the top two percent of African American males in terms of SAT scores and grades. The result...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0195102193
• ISBN13: 9780195102192
• Release Date: April 1998
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 1.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.4" x 9.6"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary

Customer Reviews

Different parents, different perspectives

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.

Put this on your must read list

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.

Good Parenting is Color Blind

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.