ABSTRACT
Racism remains pervasive in the United States. It is palpable in every aspect of society and has impeded the educational outcomes and life chances of children of color for far too long. Black boys, in particular, encounter racist deficit-laden mental models in schools every day. Race matters in schools. More than half of the 50.7 million students who attend the nation’s public schools identify as non-White; however, 80 percent of nearly four million teachers identify as White. This mismatch is problematic as race was found to play a critical role in how teachers perceive their students’ potential for academic success. Femininity is often contrary to Black girls’ sense of identity. Femininity centers Whiteness and denigrates Black women and girls who do not align to hegemonic attributes and behaviors deemed acceptable for women and girls. Black girls who fall outside of this paradigm are considered ‘loud,’ ‘ratchet,’ or ‘hypersexual.’.
