According to a report by Civil Rights Data Collection (Issue March 2014), African American students are often located in schools with less qualified teachers, teachers with lower salaries and novice teachers. Another report in 2016 by the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights showed that African American students are less likely than white students to have access to college-ready courses. In fact, in 2011-12, only 57 percent of black students had access to a full range of math and science courses necessary for college readiness, compared to 81 percent of Asian American students and 71 percent of white students.
These findings resonate with Coleman’s social capital theory, which emphasizes the role of social support systems in shaping individuals’ educational outcomes. Coleman argues that social capital, akin to a support network, plays a crucial role in decision-making processes, especially in education. The unequal distribution of resources and opportunities, as evidenced by the reports, implies the importance of understanding and addressing disparities in social capital access. Coleman’s perspective sheds light on how social capital dynamics contribute to educational inequalities experienced by African American students and underscores the need for interventions to promote equitable access to resources and opportunities in education.
According to Coleman’s social capital theory – The function identified by the concept of “social capital” is the value of these aspects of social structure to actors as resources that they can use to achieve their interests. (Coleman, 1988 p. 101). A type of social capital is a social support system that helps people navigate their way through different social situations. Whether a particular social setup counts as social capital depends on how well it helps individuals achieve their goals. Coleman criticizes the popular idea about social capital, saying it actually plays a big role in how people make decisions, especially when it comes to education. (Coleman, 1990) He believes it’s more evenly spread out in society compared to things like money or skills.
Family background, as a form of social capital- can be broken down into three distinct components: financial capital, human capital, and social capital. Financial capital is usually gauged by a family’s wealth or income, providing resources like a dedicated study space, learning materials, and financial stability. Human capital is roughly measured by parents’ education levels, offering a conducive cognitive environment for the child’s learning.
Student from the black race has a deprivation of social capital, compared to the other groups. They are also victims of prejudice and bias by teachers and fellow classmates. Black children lack the social connection and often live in impoverished neighborhoods. In 2022, 17.1 percent of Black people living in the United States were living below the poverty line, compared to 8.6 percent of white people. (Statista, 2022) Overall, this impacts their school achievement. This also plays a major role in social reproduction.
Resources-
Civil Rights Data Collection. 2014. “Data Snapshot: Teacher Equity, Issue Brief No. 4 (March 2014)
Coleman, James S. 1990. “Commentary: Social Institutions and Social Theory.” American Sociological Review 55(3): 333-339.
Coleman, James S. 1988. “Social Capital in the Creation of Human Capital.” American Journal of Sociology 94(Supplement): S95-S120.
Statista Research Department. 2023. “U.S. Poverty Rate in the United States 2022, by Race and Ethnicity.” Published November 3.
U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights. 2016. “A First Look: Key Data Highlights on Equity and Opportunity Gaps in Our Nation’s Public Schools.” New Release for 2016.
samha's table 