Delpit, Lisa D

Presents essays in which the author, an African-American teacher, chronicles her efforts to understand the perspectives her multi-racial students bring to the classroom, discussing the reasons why many white and middle-class African-American teachers encounter problems teaching students from different cultures.

Discusses factors in the achievement gap, examining causes of miscommunication between teachers and children of color, as well as between teachers and parents of color, and explores solutions, presenting suggestions for teachers and recommendations for policy makers on teacher assessment regarding cultural difference issues.

A collection of essays which take the discussion of language in the classroom beyond the highly charged war of idioms in which "English only" really means standard English.