ABSTRACT
The narrative surrounding the inequitable numbers of African American students at highly selective universities focuses on the perceived academic shortcomings of African American students and the lack of academic preparation that leads to the limited retention of students of color. Understanding high-achieving African American students is an important step toward ensuring that these high-achievers are afforded the opportunities they have earned with their records of achievement. Despite the historical and assets of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), while due to the historical efforts of HBCUs and select public policy levers, African American BA degree attainment remains low across the United States. African American students succeeding in school and successfully transitioning to higher education is a story rarely read or heard in today’s social, economic, political, and educational contexts; yet, a subset of African American youth in the nation is thriving. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.
