I will not make this a book review of “Keepin’ It Real:
School Success Beyond Black and White” by Prudence L. Carter (warning: Prud is a Harvard sociologist). The book is one among a litany of academic monographs that blame insufficient multiculturalism for the academic failure of minority students.
No, instead of poking fun at the at book, I want to define some of the many phrases used in this book and the book review. I will be randomly testing the JLF staff and readers of the Locker Room next week.
1. ?oppositional identities? – rejecting academic excellence in order to avoid being ostracized for ?acting white.?
2. ?cultural codes? – XBox 360 meets Taco Bell
3. ?dominant cultural capital? – the knowledge, interaction styles, preferences, and attitudes that enable students to ?walk the walk? and ?talk the talk? of ?high-status social groups, organizations, or institutions.?
4. ?keep it real? – maintaining a strong affiliation with their cultural background. See “cultural codes” above.
5. ?multicultural navigators? – adults who understand students? need to ?keep it real? but who are equally familiar with the cultural tool kit required to thrive in mainstream institutions.
6. “cultural tool kit” – does not include pliers but does include a really big hammer.
7. “mainstream institutions” – white, racist, sexist institutions run by Republicans.
7. “overhauling teacher-prep programs to help prospective educators develop critical multicultural competencies” – keeping teacher-prep programs the same.
8. “multicultural competencies” – brainwashing.
