Matrenec, R. H. (2011). The Struggle for Identity for African American Adolescent Males in a Predominantly White, Affluent School. Journal of Poverty, 15(2), 226-240.

Rarely do researchers choose to focus on the schooling experiences of African American males, and almost never are their experiences understood from the African American male perspective regarding race and racism in predominantly White and affluent neighborhoods and schools. This article aims to discuss qualitative research that indicates African American males at Sunnyside High School do not experience race in the same way. The article begins with a discussion regarding the importance of understanding how race manifests in high school as adolescence is a particular time when youth are making meaning about race and identity. The 15 participants are described, as well as the qualitative methods used to gather data (i.e., focus groups and interviews). Findings for this article are discussed in terms of the most salient theme emerging from open coding (i.e., racist stereotyping) and are framed in terms of how racist stereotypes manifest, as well as how they are defined and understood at Sunnyside by the participants. Last is a discussion of the findings, providing further insight into the ways in which participants navigate racist stereotypes, and the implications it has for the emerging identities of the participants. Adapted from the source document.

Access to full article can be found here:

http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10875549.2011.563178