Graham, M., & Robinson, G. (2004). “the silent catastrophe”: Institutional racism in the british education system and the underachievement of black boys. Journal of Black Studies, 34(5), 653-671.

This article explores the recent increase in permanent exclusions of Black boys in the British educational system. Parents and educators have long been concerned about the education or “miseducation” of Black children. These concerns are reflected in the deep sense of urgency in Black communities about the need for an overall strategy to stem the tide of exclusions of Black boys. The authors argue that the continuing denial of race and racism in British educational policy is reflected in the intransigence of many schools to consider the differential positioning of Black boys in the wider society and its effect on their educational experiences and opportunities. This article draws on a research study in which Black boys voice their experiences of what it means to be young, Black, and male in Britain in 2004 and also seeks to move beyond critiques to embrace alternative visions of schooling to re-engage young people and bring about successful futures.

Full article can be found here: http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/0021934703259347