Overcoming the Odds: Raising Academically Successful African American Young Women » (New Edition)

Freeman A. Hrabowski, III, is President of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. He is coauthor, along with Kenneth I. Maton and Geoffrey L. Greif, of Beating the Odds: Raising Academically Successful African American Males. Kenneth I. Maton is Professor of Psychology at the UMBC and Director of the Community-Social Ph.D. Program in Human Services Psychology. Monica L. Greene is Faculty Research Associate in Psychology at UMBC. Geoffrey L. Greif is Associate Dean and Professor in the School of Social Work, University of Maryland. He is the author of six books, including Out of Touch: When Parents and Children Lose Contact After Divorce (OUP).

Statistics indicate that African American females, as a group, fare poorly in the United States. Many live in single-parent households—either as the single-parent mother or as the daughter. Many face severe economic hurdles. Yet despite these obstacles, some are performing at exceptional levels academically. Based on interviews with many of these successful young women and their families, Overcoming the Odds provides a wealth of information about how and why they have succeeded-what motivates them, how their backgrounds and family relationships have shaped them, even how it feels to be a high academic achiever. They also discuss the challenges of moving into African American womanhood, from maintaining self-esteem to making the right choices about their professional and personal lives. Most important, the book offers specific and inspiring examples of the practices, attitudes, and parenting strategies that have enabled these women to persevere and triumph.

For parents, educators, policy makers, and indeed all those concerned about the education of young African American women, Overcoming the Odds is an invaluable guidebook on creating the conditions that lead to academic-and lifelong-success.

Library Journal

This volume studies female participants in the Meyerhoff Scholarship program at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, for insights into the success of this select group of young black women. The Meyerhoff program targets minority students who major in math and science and provides extensive support through tutors, mentors, peers, and summer programs as well as a complete financial package. The four authors, from different departments at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (Hrabowski is president) have compiled their data through questionnaires and interviews with students, parents, and others who have played key roles. The results identify common factors in these women's success. The study serves as a valuable tool for African American parents who want to help their children achieve their highest potential, as well as for counselors, teachers, and educators at all academic levels. This book is a sequel to Beating the Odds (Oxford Univ., 1998), which studied the male participants in this same program. Highly recommended. Kay Brodie, Chesapeake Coll., Wye Mills, MD Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.