The success of Black boys in K-12 education is a critical issue that demands attention, understanding, and intentional support. For educators committed to creating inclusive, empowering learning environments, it’s essential to engage with resources that provide insight into the unique challenges these students face, as well as the strategies that can foster their success.
This list of 13 books offers a range of perspectives to equip educators with the knowledge to uplift and advocate for Black boys in the classroom and beyond. Whether you’re an experienced teacher or just starting your journey, these books offer powerful lessons on identity, systemic inequality, and the transformative power of education.
Interested in books for children, young adults, parents, or educators with Black protagonists and Black authors? Check out the Books for Black Kids book directory! It’s a work in progress with over 2,000 listings and counting.
Teaching Black Boys in the Elementary Grades: Advanced Disciplinary Reading and Writing to Secure Their Futures
From renowned educational scholar Alfred W. Tatum, Teaching Black Boys in the Elementary Grades explains how to implement early intellectual infrastructure of advanced literacy, knowledge, and personal development with young Black boys in mind and in accordance with Black intellectual tradition.
Read more about the book here.
Schooling for Resilience: Improving the Life Trajectory of Black and Latino Boys
Schooling for Resilience details the experience of seven new schools designed specifically for boys of color. Using surveys, interviews, focus groups, and classroom observations, the book explains the practices and strategies involved in creating an environment centered on Black and Brown students.
Click here for more information.
Toward a BlackBoyCrit Pedagogy: Black Boys, Male Teachers, and Early Childhood Classroom Practices
Toward a BlackBoyCrit Pedagogy uses Black Critical Theory and Black Male Studies to analyze how Black male teachers can transform the experience of the Black boys in their classrooms. The book examines pedagogies, literacies, and educational practices.
Read more about the resource here.
Bad Boys: Public Schools in the Making of Black Masculinity
Through interviews with children, teachers, principals, truant officers, and relatives, Bad Boys details how Black males are singled out to be at risk for failure and punishment in public school environments. This book will be of interest to all educators, parents, and professionals “concerned about the way our schools are shaping the next generation of African American boys.”
Read more about the book here.
The Guide for White Women Who Teach Black Boys
Most elementary and secondary school teachers are white women. Using research, activities, personal stories, and video interviews, this resource was created to help those teachers connect with Black male students in diverse classrooms.
Click here for more information.
The Brilliance of Black Boys: Cultivating School Success in the Early Grades
The Brillance of Black Boys emphasizes the importance of recognizing and cultivating the potential of Black boys in early childhood education through a strengths-based approach. It provides educators with strategies and resources to support the social-emotional development of Black boys, helping them achieve their full potential while addressing harmful stereotypes.
Read more about the book here.
Teaching Reading to Black Adolescent Males: Closing the Achievement Gap
Teaching Reading to Black Adolescent Males addresses the racial achievement gap in literacy by drawing from Alfred Tatum’s experiences as a student, middle school teacher, reading specialist, and staff developer in diverse schools. He offers practical, culturally responsive strategies for improving literacy instruction and assessment, focusing on the societal challenges Black males face and providing guidance on selecting meaningful texts.
Click here for more information.
Reading for Their Life: (Re)Building the Textual Lineages of African American Adolescent Males
In Reading for Their Life, Alfred Tatum explains how culturally relevant texts help students connect with their identities and build resilience. He offers strategies for creating a curriculum that fosters academic and personal growth for Black boys and teens, emphasizing that conventional reading strategies may fail without this personalized, empowering approach.
Read more about the book here.
Keeping Black Boys Out of Special Education
Keeping Black Boys Out of Special Education takes an intersectional approach to explain why a disproportionate number of Black boys are in special education. The book offers over 100 strategies to keep Black boys in regular classrooms, including revising teacher expectations, increasing parental involvement, and adopting hands-on teaching methods.
Click here for more information.
The Trouble with Black Boys: …And Other Reflections on Race, Equity, and the Future of Public Education
In The Trouble with Black Boys, Pedro Noguera explores the persistent influence of race in American society and its impact on education, highlighting the responsibility of educators to help students expand their racial identities and realize their full potential. He addresses topics like the achievement gap and immigration, offering insights on improving educational outcomes for all students amid the complexities of race.
Read more about the book here.
How Teachers Position Black Boys in Ontario’s K-12 Schools
This book details how “zero tolerance” policies and prejudice have affected the treatment of Black male students in Ontario, Canada. It also introduces a concept called “culturally responsive training,” a framework for educators to learn about the background of their students.
Click here for more information.
Promises Kept: Raising Black Boys to Succeed in School and in Life
Promises Kept aims to help Black boys close the achievement gap and succeed at every phase of life. Using innovative research, practical strategies, and interviews with parents and children, this book will guide educators and parents in helping their children develop resilience, self-discipline, and emotional intelligence in the face of a challenging world.
Read more about the book here.
Who Cares About Black Boys?: Moving from Acknowledgment to Advocacy
Who Cares About Black Boys addresses the negative messages schools send about Black male students, questioning their value and academic capabilities. It emphasizes the importance of cultural competence in educating the educator, advocating for students, and improving academic achievement.
Click here for more information.