Diversified schools, in which students of various racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic characteristics are balanced, have a positive contextual effect on achievement for all groups compared to schools with homogeneous student bodies that tend to help affluent, white students and harm poor students and students of color. The authors advise school districts convicted for operating segregated schools on how to make all schools schools of choice that must compete for students who enroll in them. And it discusses ways of being fair and just in the distribution of educational resources to affluent as well as poor students and to white students as well as students of color.School systems that are reluctant to use racial fairness guidelines in the enrollment process are advised to use socioeconomic fairness guidelines, because the absence of any enrollment fairness guidelines tends to result in the return to segregation and a dual school system helpful to a few but harmful to many students. This book suggests ways of empowering parents and professional educators and it discusses how to achieve a good outcome for urban as well as rural school districts and for large as well as small school systems. Among communities mentioned in this study are Cambridge, Boston, Brockton MA; St.Lucie County, Lee County, Hillsborough County (including Tampa) FL; Santa Rosa County CA; Seattle WA; New Haven CT; Rockford IL; Milwaukee WI; and Charleston County SC.

Student Diversity, Choice, and School Improvement

Charles V. Willie

Ralph Edwards

Michael J. Alves

Praeger

The Black College Mystique

This study compares the culture of black colleges and universities a generation ago with those that exist today, and makes projections into the future, based on a comprehensive review of professional literature and an analysis of the management skills of contemporary black college leaders. The book considers the assets and liabilities of historically Black colleges and discusses the ways in which Black colleges can be of help to non-Blacks (including white students) who can benefit from the unique kind of education offered by such schools. The mission of historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) a generation ago focused on opening doors closed to students because of their scores on standardized aptitude tests, providing remedial and supportive services to students whose academic backgrounds reflect low levels of achievement, combining academic as well as vocational course concentrations, modifying instructional methods and techniques to meet students where they are, and take them to the higher levels they are capable of attaining. This mission of opening new opportunities, giving support to overcome deficits of the past, and preparing students for professional and academic vocations continues today for these institutions.

Politics & Social Sciences

Richard J. Reddick

Ronald Brown

Social Sciences

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

Grassroots Social Action: Lessons in People Power Movements

With the ever-expanding boom of grassroots organizations and their growing importance for public policy, many organizations have been forced to rethink the effects of social, economic, and political disparities in society. This collection of essential essays and case studies will help activists, researchers, and students engage in this process of reevaluation and strategizing. Grassroots Social Action explores power negotiations and examines effective and ineffective community actions from the bottom up. Willie and his colleagues focus on the influence of common people in relation to hierarchical forms of social order. Paying special attention to nine case studies, including the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the chapters show the complementary relationship between dominant and subdominant people in public policymaking. Grassroots Social Action offers a critical and empowering assessment of how change occurs in communities.

History

Steven P. Ridini

David A. Willard

Historical Study & Educational Resources

A New Look at Black Families

Charles Willie and Richard Reddick's A New Look at Black Families has introduced thousands of students to the intricacies of the Black family in American society since its publication in 1976. Using a case study approach, Willie and Reddick show the varieties of the Black family experience and how those experiences vary by socioeconomic status. In addition to examining families of low-income, working, and middle classes, the authors also look to the family experiences of highly successful African Americans to try to identify the elements of the family environment leading to success. The authors puncture the myth of the Black matriarchy prevalent in the popular imagination; and they explore a variety of family configurations, including a family with same-gender parents. The sixth edition has been reorganized and updated throughout. The new Part III_Cases Against and for Black Men and Women_unites two chapters from previous editions into a cohesive discussion of stereotypes and misunderstandings from both scholars and the mass media. Also, a new chapter on the Obama family offers support for cross-gender and cross-racial mentoring, and it demonstrates the value of extended family relations.

Biographies & Memoirs

Community & Culture

Charles Willie’s A New Look at Black Families has introduced thousands of students to the intricacies of the Black family in American society since its publication in 1976. Now, with Richard Reddick, Willie has produced a substantially-revised fifth edition of this standard text on the subject. Using a case study approach, Willie and Reddick show the varieties of the Black family experience and how those experiences vary by socioeconomic status. In addition to examining families of low-income, working, and middle classes, the authors also look to the family experiences of highly successful African Americans to try to identify the elements of the family environment leading to success. The authors also puncture the myth of the Black matriarchy prevalent in the popular imagination. For a nuanced, readable, accurate picture of the state of the family in African America for scholars and their students, this New Look will be essential reading.

AltaMira Press

Caste and Class Controversy

General Hall, Inc., Publishers

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Books by Charles V. Willie