Supporting African American Talent Development

From then on until graduation, I often experienced the classroom phenomenon of being the Only: the only Black male. Because I was the Only, I occupied a space where I was also the representative, charged with sticking around to represent my group(s) well. White students will undoubtedly see their people in classroom texts-fiction, nonfiction, videos, posters, textbooks, artwork, etc.-and because the representations are typically flattering and empowering, the students perhaps feel comfort and belonging in those depictions: "I am welcome in this space." [...]the question to ask is this: are the texts that we use in our classrooms creating a welcomed presence for our African American students? Aren't there texts with Black figures in which race is a description, not a plot device? [...]it is important to consider what reflections we are casting to our students.