Sponsor
Portland State University. Department of Sociology
First Advisor
Melissa Thompson
Date of Publication
Winter 3-21-2014
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (M.S.) in Sociology
Department
Sociology
Language
English
Subjects
McWhorter, John H. -- Criticism and interpretation, Academic achievement -- African Americans, Self-perception -- African Americans, African Americans -- Psychology
DOI
10.15760/etd.1634
Physical Description
1 online resource (iv, 95 pages)
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to test John McWhorter's theory on African American academic underachievement. The theory claims that since the 1960's African American identities have been significantly influenced by beliefs of victimization and anti-intellectualism along with values of separatism. In order to test for the existence of these dimensions in African American's thinking and for their relationship to academic achievement, data from the Maryland Adolescence Development In Context Study (MADICS) were used. Findings indicated that victimization, separatism and anti-intellectualism have a causal relationship and that sentiments of victimization are found to be significantly higher among African Americans. A Bourdieuian theoretical framework is used in the framing and interpretation of the results.
Rights
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Persistent Identifier
http://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/11037
Recommended Citation
Marion, Marlon DeWayne, "Victimization, Separatism and Anti-intellectualism: An Empirical Analysis of John McWhorter's Theory on African American's Low Academic Performance" (2014). Dissertations and Theses. Paper 1635.
https://doi.org/10.15760/etd.1634