Preface
Introduction
"They don't give us a chance to be us" : black boys' sense making and theorizing about their lives
Part I : secondary school experiences
"I needed to get out" : educational desires and the urban neighborhood
"I always knew that I was smart" : personal perspectives and educational pursuits
"Getting the preparation and knowledge about college" : schooling and college-going support
Part II : collegiate experiences
"I knew I was gon' struggle" : stories and expectations of college struggles
"I never wanted to give up, but . . ." : navigating and coping with challenging experiences
"I didn't have no plan B" : staying focused on collegiate goals
"I'm creating my own story" : young black men enacting and embodying agency
Part III : lessons
"Sometimes the odds are just stacked against you" : reassessing the challenges that make education high-stakes
Looking forward : addressing the stakes for black boys and young men
Appendix.