Race,
Identity & Achievement: What Role for Elites?
The discussion focused on how economic,
academic and social “elites” can
play a role in helping young people to cope with race- and identity-related
pressures that interfere with achievement.
The evening opened with a brief research review on ways that social,
psychological, cultural and structural phenomena can affect student achievement.
Then, panelists offered comments from several informed perspectives.
During the "rap" segment of the event, the audience broke
out into small groups to consider ways that “elites” in
their personal, professional and civic roles, might help children, both
their own and others', to reach their academic potential. The evening's
wrap-up discussion focused on recommendations and next steps.
Professor David Thomas of Harvard Business School served as
Moderator. Other panelists included Ronald Ferguson, Faculty Co-Chair
of the Achievement Gap Initiative at Harvard University, Cedric Jones,
a minister, former World-Wide VP at Johnson & Johnson and co-founder
of "Adults
Committed to Excellence," and Joshua Garriga, Harvard Kennedy
School (HKS) Graduate Student and Co-Chair of the HKS Black Student Caucus.
Attendees had the opportunity to interact with panelists on
critical questions, including:
* How do race- and identity-related issues that adolescents face contribute
to achievement gaps? Who can best help young people to cope with these
pressures and whose responsibility is it to do so?
* Racial achievement gaps are quite large among children of the college
educated. How should parents' education, income, or wealth levels matter,
or not, in the measures we take to raise achievement among children and
youth of different racial groups?
* What roles can economically successful, highly educated people play
in helping to raise achievement among children from less advantaged backgrounds?
For example, as people who shape employment practices affecting parents?
As civic leaders?
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Videos
David Thomas, Moderator
Ronald
Ferguson, Research Review
Q
& A
These videos are in realplayer format (.rm);
you can download a free player from www.real.com.
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