Race And Education Four Species Of Capital Economic Human Social Cultural Performance Differences Potential Explanations For Differences Genetics? Ethnic

Race And Race And

EducationEducation

Four Species Of Capital

Four Species Of Capital

Economic • Human • Social • Cultural

Economic • Human • Social • Cultural

Performance Differences

Performance Differences

Potential Explanations For Differences

Potential Explanations For Differences

Genetics?Genetics?

Ethnic Culture?

Ethnic Culture?

Structure?Structure?

Speci

es

Of

Speci

es

Of

Capit

al

Capit

al

Transf

err

ed F

rom

Genera

tion T

o

Transf

err

ed F

rom

Genera

tion T

o

Genera

tion

Genera

tion

Able

To B

e E

xchanged F

or

Oth

er

Able

To B

e E

xchanged F

or

Oth

er

Reso

urc

es

Reso

urc

es

• • Economic Capital:

Economic Capital:

Control of fControl of financial resources (e.g., cash, assets)

• • Human Capital:

Human Capital:Accumulated knowledge, skills, and physical

Accumulated knowledge, skills, and physical

capabilities gained through education

capabilities gained through education

• • Social Capital:

Social Capital:The collective value of all social networks (who

The collective value of all social networks (who

you know) and the inclinations that arise from

you know) and the inclinations that arise from

these networks to do things for each other.

these networks to do things for each other.

• • Cultural Capital:

Cultural Capital:Linguistic and cultural competencies (primarily

Linguistic and cultural competencies (primarily

tastes, and dispositions) valued but not taught

tastes, and dispositions) valued but not taught

in schools. You learn them at home.

in schools. You learn them at home.

George BeckerPierre Bourdieu

DeceasedDeceasedAbsenteeAbsentee

Performance DifferencesPerformance Differences

Fact: Fact: A A

17yo Black 17yo Black

senior has senior has

the the

average average

reading reading

proficiency proficiency

of a 13yo of a 13yo

White 8White 8thth

gradergrader

SCORE SCORE THE SAME THE SAME ON READING/MATH ON READING/MATH TESTSTESTS


FACT: FACT: Black and White Black and White Kindergarteners Kindergarteners

. . . . with the same ages and birth weight,. . . . with the same ages and birth weight,

. . . . whose moms have the same test . . . . whose moms have the same test scores, education, occupation, income, and scores, education, occupation, income, and

wealth,wealth,

. . . . whose moms were the same age when . . . . whose moms were the same age when they had their first child, andthey had their first child, and

. . . . with the same number of children’s . . . . with the same number of children’s book, movies, etc. in their homesbook, movies, etc. in their homes

Source: Fryer and Source: Fryer and Levitt 2004; Yeung Levitt 2004; Yeung and Conley 2006; and Conley 2006; Yeung and Pfeiffer Yeung and Pfeiffer 20062006

By The By The Third Grade Third Grade

The The AchievemenAchievemen

t Gap For t Gap For These Kids These Kids ReappearsReappears

What’s What’s Going On Going On

Here?Here?


Internet Access At Home

White – 80%Black – 61%

Hispanic – 67%

Visited Library Recently


Hispanic – 32%

In KindergartenCan Count To 20


Hispanic – 42%

In KindergartenRead To Last Week


Hispanic – 72%

In KindergartenRecognizes All

LettersWhite – 29%Black – 24%

Hispanic – 16%HS DropoutsWhite – 11%Black – 13%

Hispanic – 27%

SAT Scores (Q&V Only)

White – 1061Black – 862

Hispanic – 925

College Grad Or More


Hispanic – 13%

ACT Composite Scores

White – 22Black – 17

Hispanic – 19

Is It

Geneti

cs?

Is It

Geneti

cs?

Facts:Biracial kids with White

mothers and Black fathers

have higher IQs thanBiracial kids with Black

mothers and White fathers

Black kids adopted by White families

have higher IQs thanBlack kids adopted by

Black families

Moore 1986Moore 1986Nisbett 1998Nisbett 1998

Is It

Eth

nic

Is

It

Eth

nic

C

ult

ure

?C

ult

ure

?

Facts: Black kids value education as much (if

not more) than their White peers.

We find (general) oppositional culture in all races and it is (intraracial) class-

linked more than (racialized) race-linked

Ainsworth-Darnell & Downey Ainsworth-Darnell & Downey 19981998

Tyson et al 2005Tyson et al 2005Blau 2003Blau 2003

Arguments: Lower-class/minority culture has

distinct values and forms of social organization that do not value

education as highly as middle-class and White families (Lareau).

Black kids believe doing well in school is “Acting White” and this

creates a culture that is opposed to education (Ogbu).

Is It

Diff

ere

nce

s In

Is It

Diff

ere

nce

s In

O

pport

unit

y?

Opport

unit

y?

Facts:

Minority Kids Are More Likely

. . . to be in single-race schools

. . . to attend schools where teachers don’t live nearby

. . . to attend public schools

. . . to attend large urban schools

. . . to attend highly tracked schools

. . . to attend bureaucratic schools

. . . to attend poorly-resourced schools

. . . to be taught by uncertified teachers

And To Face Micro-Expectations In These Environments

Documents

Race And Education Four Species Of Capital Economic Human Social Cultural Performance Differences Potential Explanations For Differences Genetics? Ethnic