ABSTRACT
Culture consists of the ever-changing values, traditions, social and political relationships, and worldview created, shared, and transformed by a group of people who are bound together by a combination of factors. These factors can include a common history, geographic location, language, social class, and religion. A culturally responsive approach involves teachers’ using their students’ culture as an important source of the students’ education. Literacy instruction that pays attention to the needs of black males and acknowledges their turmoil can be regarded as culturally responsive. Teachers who use a culturally responsive approach with their black male students understand their own culture in relationship to that of their students. Culturally responsive teachers are reluctant to acquiesce to the idea that black boys living under stressful conditions have a legitimate excuse not to perform well. Culturally responsive pedagogy has been effective for addressing the literacy needs of students of color.
