ABSTRACT
Chapter 5 analyses the contribution of ‘community based’ networks to the participants’ educational success. In essence, the deployment of social /community capital in the form of localised community programmes such as those offered by Black community organisations, Black churches and Black supplementary schools. It therefore provides a crucial insight into how communities themselves organise and employ strategies, that are distinct from family-based strategies to facilitate Black men’s educational survival and ability to resist structural inequality in education. It illustrates how social, navigational capital, community, diasporic collectives and social capital are demonstrated. The nature of the navigational capital afforded the Black males included advice, mentoring, inspiration, information about accessing education and training opportunities which enabled them to convert their social capital directly into navigational capital.
Salient to this chapter is understanding the triggers for the community activation of social and navigational capital for young Black men to experience a ‘turnaround narrative’ and ultimately to be academically successful.
