Black Men in Law School: Unmatched or Mismatched (Routledge Research in Educational Equality and Diversity)

"Grounded in Critical Race Theory (CRT), Black Men in Law School refutes the claim that when African American law students are "mismatched" with more selective law schools, the result is lower levels of achievement and success. Presenting personal narratives and counter-stories, Jackson demonstrates the inadequacy of the mismatch theory and deconstructs the ways race is constructed within American public law schools. Calling for a replacement to mismatch theory, Jackson offers an alternative theory that considers marginalized student perspectives and crystallizes the nuances and impact that historically exclusionary institutions and systems have on African American law school students. To further the debate on affirmative action, this book shows that experiences and voices of African American law school students are a crucial ingredient in the debate on race and how it functions in law schools."--Provided by publisher "Grounded in Critical Race Theory (CRT), [this book] refutes the claim that when African American law students are "mismatched" with more-selective law schools, the result is lower levels of achievement and success. Presenting personal narratives and counter-stories, Jackson demonstrates the inadequacy of the mismatch theory and deconstructs the ways race is constructed within American public law schools. Calling for a replacement to mismatch theory, Jackson offers an alternative theory that considers marginalized student perspectives and crystallizes the nuances and impact that historically exclusionary institutions and systems have on African American law school students. To further the debate on affirmative action, this book shows that experiences and voices of African American law school students are a crucial ingredient in the debate on race and how it functions in law schools"--Page i Cover Title Copyright Dedication Contents Preface Acknowledgements 1 The Law School “Race”: An Introduction 2 Exploring the “Appropriate Place” for African American Law Students: Understanding Mismatch Theory 3 Mapping the Racetrack: A Conceptual Framework 4 Finding Olympians: Research Design and Methods 5 Analyzing the Race: Dialogues From African American Male Former Law School Students 6 Looking at Different Racetracks: Mismatched or Maligned? 7 Crossing the Line: Conclusions and Recommendations References Appendix A: Interview Protocol Appendix B: Document(s) Request Appendix C: May 2011 NVIVO Coding Appendix D: February 2012 NVIVO Coding Appendix E: The Process of Progress Appendix F: Recruitment Letter Index