Rejection or Confirmation of Racial Identity: A Dilemma for High-Achieving Blacks?

Abstract

The problems of underachievement or poor achievement among Black students has received much attention in the scholarly and professional literature. Many theories and explanations have been proposed to explain the achievement problems of Black students in general, and high-achieving Black students in particular. In this article we present an overview of that literature, giving special attention to research on peer pressure and its impact on achievement. Specifically, the phenomenon of "acting white" or "raceless" is discussed in an attempt to understand such poor achievement. Recommendations are offered for educators, parents, community leaders, and others who seek to reverse the problem of underachievement among Black students, thus ensuring their educational success.