The African American Child
Development and Challenges
Praise for the First Edition:
This book argues convincingly that children's cultural differences need to be recognized for any accurate understanding of their development. Pointing out the need for additional and more effectively designed research, Harris and Graham provide a valuable foundation for further investigations. This nonpolemic book should be in all libraries, filling an unfortunate gap. Highly recommended.
--Choice
This is an evenhanded examination of the challenges affecting the lives of African American children that emphasizes their strengths and resiliency rather than deficits. It is the only text to comprehensively consider the biological, emotional, social, and cultural domains of development in this population. The second edition reflects an acceleration of research on the development of racial identity in African American children, a shift from the dictates of "No Child Left Behind" to a more flexible approach to student academic evaluation, and changes in the economic conditions of African American children and their families. The book also reflects the increase in the number of African American children in foster care and those with incarcerated parents. New coverage also includes new information about the mental health of African Americans, and a new chapter on adolescent development.
This new edition features updated statistical information on health problems, healthcare access, new diagnostic techniques, new treatment approaches, and the number of children of African origin. It provides an expanded discussion of the value of qualitative methodology, ethical issues in research, and a discussion of the characteristics of middle and upper class African American families. End-of-chapter discussion questions, an "Insider's Voice" in each chapter that highlights important elements, and an "Issues Box" that highlights historic and legal issues also enhance the second edition.
New to the Second Edition:
- New inclusion of information on African American adolescents
- A discussion of the impact of parental incarceration on the long- and short-term outcomes of African American children
- Updated statistical information on health, academic performance, language and literacy, and other issues
- Information about children of African origin and their families
- Information about middle and upper class African American families
- Expanded discussion of the value of qualitative methodology and ethical issues in research on African American children
- New diagnostic techniques and treatment approaches for sickle cell anemia
- Update on work with AA families and children in therapy and the role of community focused therapy
- A discussion of the role of self-efficacy on academic competence, the influence of NCLB on academic performance, and current initiatives to improve academic outcomes for African American children
- The current status of Oakland School Board's Ebonics Resolution
- New information on Prosocial Behavior and Empathy and Aggressive/Antisocial behavior among African American children
- Expanded section on how communities affect the lives of African American children including research on African American children and the media
- End-of-chapter discussion questions
- Insider's Voice" and "Issues Box" features in each chapter
Preface
Acknowledgments
CHAPTER 1 Demographics: A Portrait of African American
Children and African American Adolescents 1
Overview
Section One: Population Statistics on African American Children and
African American Adolescents
Section Two: Living Arrangements of African American Children
Section Three: Economic Conditions of African American Children and Their Families
Perspectives on Demographics and African American Children and
African American Adolescents
Additional Readings
CHAPTER 2 Research Issues With African American Children and
African American Adolescents 15
Overview: The Importance of Studying Developmental Research Methods
Insider’s Voice: The Need for More Research on African American Children
Section One: Problems: Methodological Constraints in Research Designs
Insider’s Voice: Where Have We Gone Wrong?
Section Two: Conducting Culturally Relevant Research With African American Children
The Need for Culturally Sensitive Research With African American Children
Conceptual Frameworks and Interdisciplinarity
The Role of Context in African American Child Development
The Relationship to African American Child Development and Central Characteristics in Developmental Psychology
Ethical Considerations With African American Child Participants
Section Three: Theories
Vygotsky’s Sociocultural Theory
Bronfenbrenner’s Bioecological Systems Theory
Integrative Conceptual Model of Child Development
Perspectives on Research and Theories
Chapter Summary
Additional Readings
Discussion Questions
CHAPTER 3 Health Issues and African American Children and African American Adolescents
Overview
Section One: Health Challenges
Infant Mortality
Insider’s Voice: Infant Mortality
Maternal Risk Factors
Initiatives Designed to Reduce African American Infant Mortality Rates
Physical Challenges Beyond Infancy
AIDS
Treatment of AIDS
Plumbism
Insider’s Voice: Plumbism
Treatment of Plumbism
Sickle-Cell Anemia
Insider’s Voice: Sickle-Cell Anemia
Treatment of Sickle-Cell Anemia
Asthma
Treatment of Asthma
Obesity
Treatment of Obesity
African American Adolescents and Health Issues
Sexual Behavior
Contraceptive Use
Teen Pregnancy
STI’s and STD’s
Section Two: Access to Health Care
Perspectives on the Health Status of African American Children and
African American Adolescents
Chapter Summary
Additional Readings
Discussion Questions
CHAPTER 4 Mental Health Issues, Racial Identity and African American Children and African American Adolescents 65
Overview
Section One: Mental Health Issues
Insider’s Voice: African American Children and Mental Health Issues
Mental Health Status of African American Children and African American Adolescents
Risk Factors
Assessment and Diagnosis
Treatment of Mental Health Disorders
Section Two: Racial Identity
Modifiability Studies
Self Concept and Racial Identity
Cognitive level and Racial Attitudes
The Doll Test and the 21st Century
African American Adolescents and Racial Identity
Perspectives on Mental Health and Racial Identity
Chapter Summary
Additional Readings
Discussion Questions
CHAPTER 5 Education and African American Children and African American Adolescents 83
Overview
Section One: School Desegregation and African American Children
Insider’s Voice: Resegregation of America’s Public Schools
Desegregation and African American Children
Section Two: Schools That Work for African American Children
Public School Models
Charter Schools
Independent Black Schools (IBS)
Section Three: African American Children and Early Intervention Programs
Head Start
High/Scope Perry Preschool Project
The Abecedarian Project
Perspectives on Education and African American Children
Chapter Summary
Additional Readings
Discussion Questions
CHAPTER 6 Language and Literacy 111
Overview
Section One: The Controversy
Insider’s Voice: The Oakland School Board Ebonics Resolution
Section Two: Language Learning and African American Children
Section Three: Language and Literacy Issues
Section Four: Language and Literacy Intervention Programs for African American Children
Section Five: Language Assessment and African American Children: Distinguishing Dialect From a Speech Language Disorder
Perspectives on Language Learning and Literacy and African American Children
Chapter Summary
Additional Readings
Discussion Questions
CHAPTER 7 Moral Development 133
Overview
Insider’s Voice: What if Heinz Were Black?
The Issues
Section One: Theories of Moral Development
Piaget’s Theory
Kohlberg’s Theory: The Ethic of Justice
Criticisms of Piaget’s and Kohlberg’s Theories
Gilligan’s Theory: The Ethic of Care
Gibb’s Sociomoral Reasoning Model
Humphries’ Culture and Empathy Model
Turiel’s Domain Theory: Moral Rules and Social Conventions
Section Two: Aggressive Behavior and African American Children
Morality and Racial Identity Development
Section Three: Prosocial Behavior and African American Children
Possible Factors Influencing Prosocial Behavior in African American Children
Moral Development and Community Violence
Insider’s Voice: Dissecting the ‘Code of the Street’
Perspectives on African American Children and Moral Development
Chapter Summary
Additional Readings
Discussion Questions
CHAPTER 8 Social Contexts in the Lives of African American Children and African American Adolescents
American Children: 165
Overview
Issues
Insider’s Voice: Resilience in Black Families
Section One: Models of the African American Family
Pathological Model
Cultural Equivalent Model
Emergent Model
Ecology Models of the Family
Guiding Principles of Family Systems Theory
External Systems Affecting the Family
Section Two: African American Family Structure and Child Development
Nuclear Family
African American Single-Parent Families
Other Types of Families
Childre of Incarcerated Parents
Foster Care Families
Section Three: Neighborhoods and Communities
Section Four: The Peer Group
African American Children’s Peer Relationships
African American Children’s Friendships
Race and Bullying
Section Five: Media Exposure and Usage
Perspectives on African American Children and Social Contexts
Chapter Summary
Additional Readings Discussion Questions
CHAPTER 9 Epilogue: Where Do We Go From Here? 185
Poverty
Cultural Diversity Within the African American Population
Family Constellation
Health Care
Education
Violence
Mass Incarceration of Neighborhoods and African American Parents References 189
Index 215
- Release Date: February 13, 2014
- Paperback / softback
- 302 Pages
- Trim Size: 6in x 9in
- Number of Illustrations: 29
- Features: 29 Illustrations
- ISBN: 9780826110190
- eBook ISBN: 9780826110206
