Intersectional Identities: "Acting White," Gender and Achievement

Beyond Acting White broadens the conversation on the Black-White achievement gap that has been dominated by the notion that Blacks underperform in school because they fear (being accused of) "acting white." The authors address the limitations of this explanation, presenting new research that theorizes race as a social phenomenon, unmasks the heterogeneity of the Black experience, and contends with the specifics of social context in the culture and organization of schools and communities. Carter's chapter specifically addresses issues of gender and achievement within this context.