2017/09/01 by Gloria Ladson‐Billings · 1 citation
Social Sciences · #Critical Race Theory in Education #School Choice and Performance #Higher Education Research Studies
paper · doi:10.1177/0002716217718793
openalex publication_date 2017/09/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/30
A common explanation of why urban students fail to succeed in the classroom is that they are coming from a “culture of poverty.” This article argues that urban students, particularly those who are African American, face a series of structural and institutional barriers that impede their pathways to success. Lack of access to quality healthcare, affordable housing, and quality schools means that the nation’s most disadvantaged children remain disadvantaged. Yet classrooms with highly qualified teachers who believe in the efficacy of their practice and the ability of all students to learn can make a difference in these children’s lives.