A Perfect Storm: How Pose, Perception, and Threat Converge to Perpetuate Discriminatory Discipline Practices for Black Male Students

Abstract

A vast amount of educational literature has repeatedly documented the overrepresentation of African American male students in exclusionary school punishment. However, amid the wealth of data and statistics on the topic, a viable theoretical explanation, that helps to make sense of the disproportionately high number of suspensions for Black males, remains relatively absent. Drawing upon the Method of Theory Triangulation, this chapter uses three conceptual frames to develop a plausible, causal narrative for deconstructing how pose, perception, and threat converge create a perfect storm of conditions that perpetuate discriminatory discipline practices. Based on the theoretical considerations implicit in this account, practical recommendations are offered to educational stakeholders who might be interested in improving school discipline practices and reducing the number of Black males disproportionately targeted for disciplinary action.

Citation

Butler, B.R., Robinson, D. and Walton, C.W. (2014), "A Perfect Storm: How Pose, Perception, and Threat Converge to Perpetuate Discriminatory Discipline Practices for Black Male Students", African American Male Students in PreK-12 Schools: Informing Research, Policy, and Practice (Advances in Race and Ethnicity in Education, Vol. 2), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 151-175. https://doi.org/10.1108/S2051-231720140000002025