Black and Gifted: Hiding In Plain View

Abstract This dissertation examines representation of African Americans in gifted programs in an urban school district where the creation of gifted programs was enacted as a tool for desegregation. The research is conducted from the perspectives of gifted African American students in an effort to shed some light on whether an achievement gap exists or is the makeup of the program itself a deterrent to the enrollment of African American students. A qualitative study was conducted using personal narratives from students who were enrolled in a self-contained gifted program in the urban school districts. The participants gave personal interviews where they answered a series of questions which recanted stories and details of their middle or high school years in a gifted program. Three African American females participated in the research. Each female was enrolled in a gifted program for at least three years. The interviews were collected and coded for similar phrases and responses to questions about the experience of an African American in gifted programs. Findings in the research revealed that African Americans were in the minority in each participant’s individual gifted program. In addition, each participant revealed that she had no more than two African American teachers throughout the three years she was enrolled in a gifted program. Participants further revealed that she experienced cultural isolation from other African American students who were not in the gifted program. Each participant reported experiencing bias from teachers, traditional students, and fellow gifted students.

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Education

Grantor

Education

Year dc:date.available

2014

Author dc:creator

• Hayes-Wilson, Deanna Lynn

• critical race theory
• qualitative
• Black
• African American
• gifted

Statement dc:rights

• withheld
• Secure the entire work for patent and/or proprietary purposes for a period of one year. Student has submitted appropriate documentation which states: During this period the copyright owner also agrees not to exercise her/his ownership rights, including public use in works, without prior authorization from LSU. At the end of the one year period, either we or LSU may request an automatic extension for one additional year. At the end of the one year secure period (or its extension, if such is requested), the work will be released for access worldwide.

Identifier

etd-11072014-135555
https://repository.lsu.edu/gradschool_dissertations/251

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:repository.lsu.edu:gradschool_dissertations-1250