Black Girls and Self‐esteem

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Abstract
Drawing on experiences as a teacher, working with black colleagues and pupils, the author discusses the ways in which social psychologists have misunderstood the self‐esteem of young black women. By looking at the history of these debates, the paternalistic, classist and racist assumptions that have been employed in this area can be challenged. It is then possible to draw out the high expectations young black people set for themselves, despite the obstacles they face, and show why teachers need to reject a deficit model and instead develop an anti‐racist approach in their classroom and school practice.