Success Factors of Young African-American Males at a Historically Black College

At a time when American society is desperately seeking to create hope for inner city black youth, this study serves as a tool to encourage those responsible for teaching and socializing young African-American males, who may feel they have little chance for success. The study involved 17 African-American male students at a historically black college in Miami, Florida. These students had great desire to achieve and did so despite daunting obstacles such as neighborhoods plagued with drugs, gangs, and crime. Interviewing students at the moment in their lives when they had successfully advanced beyond their environment, the author helps them to analyze their past in an honest manner.

The case studies of the individuals reveal that family is the most relevant factor in the student's success; particularly, the presence of one person who cares and encourages the young man is vital. In President Clinton's speech to the NAACP in July 1997, he remarked, I am tired of being told that children cannot succeed because of the difficulties of their circumstances. All we do is consign them to staying in the same circumstances. It is wrong. Through the stories of these students who have overcome their odds, this book can serve as an inspiration for younger African-American males to prevail over their own hardships.

Introduction
The Need for Role Models for Inner-City Youths
Statement of the Problem
Purpose of the Study
Limitations
Definition of Terms
Significance of the Study
Review of the Literature
The Perseverance of the Black Male
The African-American Male "In Crisis"
The Lack of Male Role Models in the Inner City
The Significance of Role Models
The Significance of Mentorship
Black Colleges versus White Colleges for the Black Student
Trends in Higher Education for African-Americans
A Historical Perspective
Design of the Study
Initial Procedures
Ethnography
Phenomenology
Hermeneutics
Grounded Theory
Constant Comparative Method
Negative Case Analysis
Constructed Realities
Shiva's Circle
Methodology
The Setting
The Sample
The Interviewing Process
Trustworthiness Criteria
Triangulation
Transferability of the Study
Data Analysis
Editing Analysis Style
Division of the Study into Units
Research Questions
Categories of the Study
Coding Procedures
Documenting the Themes
Emergent Findings and Postreview of the Literature
Theme of Bonding
Link to Religion
Link to Family
Extended Kinship Relationships
Father's Role in the Home
The Absent Father
Link to a Caring Mentor and/or Role Model
Achievement Motivation
Distinguishing Characteristics Between Cluster and Cluster II
Analysis, Conclusion, and Recommendations
Analysis of Metaphors in the Study
Major Themes
Conclusions
Recommendations
Epilogue
References
Appendix
Index