ABSTRACT
The family serves an important function in many societies; however, the role of the family is especially crucial in minority cultures, since the family is the means by which that culture is passed on to future generations. Socioeconomic and historical contexts within each ethnic group create unique life experiences; however, there is still a striking lack of research that considers intra-ethnic diversity. In addition to the considerations of intra-ethnic variations within ethnic groups, minority students’ current status and relationships with the majority educational system cannot be well understood without the proper historical contexts. Poverty is often considered a major cause of chronic stress and thus often presents major difficulties for African American families. The discrepancy between Hispanic Americans and other groups on academic achievements has led to considerable research. The development of an ethnic identity within a majority culture is a relatively unexplored area of research, and the impact of identity on school achievement is still open to speculation.
