Date

12-19-2023

Department

School of Behavioral Sciences

Degree

Doctor of Education in Community Care and Counseling (EdD)

Chair

Mollie Boyd

Keywords

African American, Black, Socioeconomic, Criminal, Education, Hope, Success, White Fragility, Slavery, Jim Crow, Racism, Race, Prejudice, Achievement gaps

Disciplines

Social and Behavioral Sciences | Sociology

Abstract

This phenomenological study was designed to examine how the concept of hope or lack thereof has an impact on the negative discrepancies in the areas of education, criminal behavior, and socio-economic status among African Americans as it compares to Whites. There may be other ethnicities who have significant inconsistencies as well, but for the sack of this study, the comparisons were primarily among African Americans and Whites. The theory guiding this study is the psychodynamic approach. This approach was guided by Sigmond Freud’s desire to understand human behavior; provided a path to studying the events of the past and present in the lives of African Americans that may help better understand behaviors and directions taken in life. By examining hope through the lens of African Americans, the desire was to provide a deeper understanding into some of the barriers to success faced within the community. Topics such as the history of Blacks in America, laws and regulations, policing, and systemic racism was studied to not only analyze their affects in the areas of achievement in education, criminal behavior, and socio-economic achievement, but also how these topics have historically and presently affected the presence of hope within the community. Understanding the importance of studying hope and how it is a motivating factor to success, or the lack thereof, was important in understanding how to motivate and help underserved and underprivileged groups in America.

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