Includes bibliographical references and index.

If African American kids aren't dumb or lazy, why are they still underachieving? : related theories -- Effective instructional practices -- Effective classroom management -- How can teachers reach African American students from challenging backgrounds? -- Standard English or Ebonics : should we force them to speak "correctly"? -- Can they call each other the "N word"? -- What should I do when African American students accuse me of being racist? -- Why do African American students need a culturally relevant education? -- Other controversial issues -- Conclusion : can teachers' beliefs be changed? : lessons that I've learned.