Educational Attainment of Immigrant and Non-Immigrant Young Blacks

Abstract

The United States has experienced resurgence in immigration over the last three decades and the U.S. Black population has been affected by the current immigration patterns. The number of immigrants from Caribbean and African countries to the United States has grown noticeably since the 1970s. Despite this increase and a growing interest in other immigrant populations, little has been written about the educational conditions and attainment of Black immigrant children. To promote academic success for Black students, our society and educators must acknowledge the presence of the immigrant segment in the Black population, be aware of their socioeconomic status and cultural patterns, and further recognize the complexities within the Black population. The purpose of this chapter is to identify and differentiate the causes of varia- tions in educational attainment among different groups of Black children. The chapter starts with a brief review of the historical significance of the presence of African and Caribbean Black immigrants in the U.S., and provides information about their demographic characteristics and geographic distribution. Based on a synthesis of research and earlier work by the author (Rong, 2005), the chapter discusses educational achievement and attainment patterns, including cultural patterns and schooling behaviors based on self-defined identities for Black students. Then, based on Census 2000 data, we illustrate these variations in educational attainment by discussing socioeconomic, demographic, and parental variables related to Black children’s life conditions and their environment. The chapter concludes with recommendations for policy and practice.