African+American+Males

A Challenge for Culturally Diverse Families of Gifted Children //**
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Although 60 years have passed since Brown vs. Board of Education (1954) legally ended segregation in the school settings, schools are now more segregated than ever before. This includes their gifted programs. Until gifted programs become more racially and culturally diverse, what can diverse parents do to meet both the academic and affective needs of their children? Parents and educators must recognize that culturally diverse students are gifted and culturally diverse. Like gifted students, they need to have their abilities recognized and they need to be challenged. Like diverse students, they need to have their culture (e.g., values, traditions, customs, etc.) acknowledged, respected, and otherwise affirmed.


 * According to the links below, these are some suggestions from the experts in dealing with culturally diverse gifted males / children. Involve your children in organizations that are both diverse and achievement-oriented.
 * Let your child attend and participate in cultural events.
 * Visit historically Black colleges and universities so that your child can see successful diverse students in an academic setting; this image also shows that there is life after K–12 schooling.
 * If possible, live in a diverse community.
 * Read books with your child about culturally diverse students who are gifted. This helps children to not feel alone and to find ways to cope with their concerns. Similarly, watch movies that contain positive images of diverse gifted students.
 * Read books with your children about characters who faced negative pressures, but succeeded.
 * Share personal experiences with your child about how you overcame social injustices. Your objective is to instill hope in your child.
 * Talk to your child about the true meaning of friendship. Many students are so eager to have companionship that they affiliate with classmates without regard to their character, integrity, and goals.
 * Be forthright in acknowledging that diverse students may exert negative peer pressures on your child. This is another form of discrimination that cannot be ignored.
 * Talk with your child about being assertive at initiating discussions with classmates.
 * Above all else, don’t lose hope or faith. Be conscious, deliberate, consistent, and systematic in advocating for your child.

Suggested Links:

[|Gifted African Americans]

[|Gifts Come in Brown]

[|Minority Students]

[|African American Males]

[|Males / Gifted]

[|Identification of Gifted African American Males]