Education Commons^™

Beyond Social Justice For The African American Learner: A Contextual Humanistic Perspective For School Counselors, Lacretia Dye, Lashonda B. Fuller, Monica G. Burke, Aaron W. Hughey

Counseling & Student Affairs Faculty Publications

African American students’ ability to persist in an educational system that has historically viewed them as uneducable is a testament to their persistence and resilience. The authors provide a brief historical overview of how African American students have been treated since they were first brought to what later became the United States. A social justice framework is discussed as a solid foundation for addressing current inadequacies, with emphasis on the need for school counselors to move beyond their traditional understanding of the so-called “achievement gap.” Using a contextual humanistic approach, the authors suggest micro and macro level action steps that …