OVERCOMING OBSTACLES - ACADEMIC-ACHIEVEMENT AS A RESPONSE TO RACISM AND DISCRIMINATION

Previous studies have suggested that in response to occupational and e ducational discrimination based on race, many African American student s have mentally withdrawn from the schooling process, as indicated by low levels of achievement and high levels of school dropout. By contra st, the present study's analysis of interview data collected from 28 A frican American urban eighth-graders indicates that same African Ameri can students with a high awareness of racial discrimination respond to this discrimination in ways that are conducive rather than detrimenta l to academic success. For these students, positive racial socializati on was a primary factor influencing and promoting academic success. Im plications for future research on the academic performance of African American students are discussed.