ABSTRACT
The purpose of this critical autobiography study was to examine how my educational experiences have made me into the man and educational leader I am today. As an African American Male, raised and educated in rural East Texas, this research study allowed me to examine my life experiences as an African American youth, teacher-coach, principal, husband, father, and scholar-practitioner. In the autobiographical narrative, I speak in my native dialect of African American Vernacular English, using my voice to share my lived experiences with the reader.
I utilized Critical Race Theory (CRT) as the lens to guide my methodology. Using CRT, the constructs of race, power, and the marginalized stereotype of the African American Male are interwoven and underscore my stories of overcoming barriers and achieving success as a husband, father, public school principal and preacher. Racism is systemic in today’s U.S. culture. Racism is embedded into social institutions, including schools, and racism continues to oppress marginalized people. However, through my stories of perseverance, I hope to overshadow racism, erase the deficit mindset toward African American males, and give all marginalized people hope.
","abstract_html":"<p><strong>ABSTRACT</strong></p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p><strong> </strong>The purpose of this critical autobiography study was to examine how my educational experiences have made me into the man and educational leader I am today. As an African American Male, raised and educated in rural East Texas, this research study allowed me to examine my life experiences as an African American youth, teacher-coach, principal, husband, father, and scholar-practitioner. In the autobiographical narrative, I speak in my native dialect of African American Vernacular English, using my voice to share my lived experiences with the reader.</p> <p> I utilized Critical Race Theory (CRT) as the lens to guide my methodology. Using CRT, the constructs of race, power, and the marginalized stereotype of the African American Male are interwoven and underscore my stories of overcoming barriers and achieving success as a husband, father, public school principal and preacher. Racism is systemic in today’s U.S. culture. Racism is embedded into social institutions, including schools, and racism continues to oppress marginalized people. However, through my stories of perseverance, I hope to overshadow racism, erase the deficit mindset toward African American males, and give all marginalized people hope.</p> <p><strong> </strong></p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["James, Derrick"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Doctor of Education","degree_level":"Dissertation","degree_discipline":"Secondary Education and Educational Leadership","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Karen Embry Jenlink, Ed.D., Dissertation Chair","Patrick M. Jenlink, Ed.D., Committee Member","Freddie Avant, Ph.D., Committee Member"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2019,"date_issued":"2019-05-01T07:00:00Z","date_published":"2019-05-01T07:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T04:30:22Z","subjects":["Critical Autobiography","African American Principal","Deep South","Determined","Difference","Autobiography","Education"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://scholarworks.sfasu.edu/etds/258","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Karen Embry Jenlink, Ed.D., Dissertation Chair","Patrick M. Jenlink, Ed.D., Committee Member","Freddie Avant, Ph.D., Committee Member"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["James, Derrick"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2019-06-10T07:00:00Z"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Secondary Education and Educational Leadership"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Dissertation"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Doctor of Education"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Critical Autobiography","African American Principal","Deep South","Determined","Difference","Autobiography","Education"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://scholarworks.sfasu.edu/etds/258"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["
ABSTRACT
The purpose of this critical autobiography study was to examine how my educational experiences have made me into the man and educational leader I am today. As an African American Male, raised and educated in rural East Texas, this research study allowed me to examine my life experiences as an African American youth, teacher-coach, principal, husband, father, and scholar-practitioner. In the autobiographical narrative, I speak in my native dialect of African American Vernacular English, using my voice to share my lived experiences with the reader.
I utilized Critical Race Theory (CRT) as the lens to guide my methodology. Using CRT, the constructs of race, power, and the marginalized stereotype of the African American Male are interwoven and underscore my stories of overcoming barriers and achieving success as a husband, father, public school principal and preacher. Racism is systemic in today’s U.S. culture. Racism is embedded into social institutions, including schools, and racism continues to oppress marginalized people. However, through my stories of perseverance, I hope to overshadow racism, erase the deficit mindset toward African American males, and give all marginalized people hope.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Determined To Make A Difference: A Critical Autobiography Of An African American Male Principal In The Deep South"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Karen Embry Jenlink, Ed.D., Dissertation Chair","Patrick M. Jenlink, Ed.D., Committee Member","Freddie Avant, Ph.D., Committee Member"],"dc:creator":["James, Derrick"],"dc:date.available":["2019-06-10T07:00:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["
ABSTRACT
The purpose of this critical autobiography study was to examine how my educational experiences have made me into the man and educational leader I am today. As an African American Male, raised and educated in rural East Texas, this research study allowed me to examine my life experiences as an African American youth, teacher-coach, principal, husband, father, and scholar-practitioner. In the autobiographical narrative, I speak in my native dialect of African American Vernacular English, using my voice to share my lived experiences with the reader.
I utilized Critical Race Theory (CRT) as the lens to guide my methodology. Using CRT, the constructs of race, power, and the marginalized stereotype of the African American Male are interwoven and underscore my stories of overcoming barriers and achieving success as a husband, father, public school principal and preacher. Racism is systemic in today’s U.S. culture. Racism is embedded into social institutions, including schools, and racism continues to oppress marginalized people. However, through my stories of perseverance, I hope to overshadow racism, erase the deficit mindset toward African American males, and give all marginalized people hope.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://scholarworks.sfasu.edu/etds/258"],"dc:subject":["Critical Autobiography","African American Principal","Deep South","Determined","Difference","Autobiography","Education"],"dc:title":["Determined To Make A Difference: A Critical Autobiography Of An African American Male Principal In The Deep South"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Secondary Education and Educational Leadership"],"thesis:degree_level":["Dissertation"],"thesis:degree_name":["Doctor of Education"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T04:30:22Z"}