Becoming Black: Applying Nigrescense Theory

Becoming Black proposes that in the interest of creating greater success among all students and of creating stable, productive communities, educators must join families and other support networks to ensure that the cultural strengths and values essential to the academic success of African American students are rehearsed, reaffirmed, and embraced in academic settings.  Becoming Black contributes to that effort in several ways.

Chapter one discusses the strengths of African American students within the context of African American cultural values and Sternberg's theory of intelligence.  Chapter two introduces William Cross's Nigrescence theory, the process of "becoming black," as an approach to examining racial identification among African American students.  The third chapter analyzes characters in four August Wilson plays--Gem of the Ocean, The Piano Lesson, Two Trains Running, and Radio Golf--using Nigrescence theory.

The essential literacy skills of observing, listening, speaking, reading, and writing can be  honed and enhanced through activities related to August Wilson's plays--culturally responsive texts that reflect the experiences of many African American students.  Thus, chapter four discusses critical literacy, which develops in students a critical stance toward the texts they read, view, and hear, toward their own communities, and toward the broader world.  

At the end of Becoming Black are supplementary materials, including a link to comprehensive study guides for all four of the plays, activities, and a template that can be used to chart one's progress through the Nigrescence stages.