ABSTRACT
This article will discuss how the various components of African American history and institutional standards create the foundation for African Americans to be treated differently. Educational institutions are a mirror of a larger social system in which they are situated (John-Steiner and Marhn, 1993). It is because of this social system that understanding the African American student population will help in understanding the dynamics. This article also seeks to magnify areas within education that are hindering African American students’ educational experiences, and thereby negatively impacting their advancement towards degree attainment.
