Abstract
Black students experience challenges and disparities in an education system that continues to police, oppress, and limit their futures. It is not a secret that Black students face racial inequities in and outside of their classrooms. The research suggests that Black students have been labeled, targeted, and left feeling isolated within our school systems. Many teachers may be ill-equipped to be able to effectively teach Black students, particularly for those in their first years of teaching, and for those who work in urban areas where there is a higher rate of Black and Brown student enrollment. This results in an increase of Black students having negative experiences with their teacher’s in the classroom. Teachers have expressed the inability to engage Black boys. Instead, Black boys are labeled as aggressive, hard to work with, and too focused on sports. From this research, the need in our education system for Black students' advancement must start at teacher and staff education. We must properly prepare teachers to work with Black students by focusing on increasing their racial literacy to combat racism in their classrooms. Teachers will be provided a handbook that addresses Black student conditions in education and how we can better advocate for them in and out of the classroom. Black students need teachers that are willing to not only understand who they are but where they come from. This handbook will help initiate the process of developing a holistic positive classroom environment where Black students feel empowered and are set up for success.