Provides stories, data, research, and exercises designed to help educators enhance equity, excellence, and educational achievement for African-American students.

Introduction: why alarm bells should be ringing in our heads -- Beliefs, mindsets, and baggage -- Identifying the personal benefits of increasing your efficacy with African American students -- That baggage is too heavy: uncovering negative mindsets that can undermine your work with African American students -- "You can't help but talk about race" : examining your beliefs about racism and racial problems -- "To be honest, I can't stand his mama" : facing your personal issues about the parents of African American students -- Part II: The curriculum, classroom management, and testing -- A hard knock life: how teachers can use the curriculum to empower African American students -- Only the strong survive: dealing with roadblocks to effective classroom management -- Using wisdom in assessing students in spite of the high-stakes-testing mania -- Learning from classroom scenarios and other problems that concern educators -- Conclusion: A work in progress: committing to ongoing personal and professional development.