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Merit In Meritocracy: Uncovering The Myth Of Exceptionality And Self-Reliance Through The Voices Of Urban Youth Of Color, David T. Lardier, Kathryn Herr, Veronica R. Barrios, Pauline Garcia-Reid, Robert Reid

Department of Educational Foundations Scholarship and Creative Works

A disproportionate number of urban youth attend underresourced and segregated schools. While tenets of the American Dream are inculcated in urban youth, a dearth of educational resources is available to help realize this dream. This qualitative study explored the narratives of urban youth (N = 85), many of whom sought to be the exceptions, embracing higher education as a pathway to successful futures, yet few identified resources that would make access to higher education possible. The capital accrued in their communities allowed them to navigate their social environment; however, it was an insufficient bridge for future success in higher education. …