Promises Kept

Raising Black Boys to Succeed in School and in Life

By: Joe Brewster, Michele Stephenson, Hilary Beard

Narrated by: Bahni Turpin, Dominic Hoffman

As seen on PBS’s POV

An unprecedented guide to helping black boys achieve success at every stage of their lives—at home, at school, and in the world

Regardless of how wealthy or poor their parents are, all black boys must confront and surmount the “achievement gap”: a divide that shows up not only in our sons’ test scores, but in their social and emotional development, their physical well-being, and their outlook on life. As children, they score as high on cognitive tests as their peers, but at some point, the gap emerges. Why?

This is the question Joe Brewster, M.D., and Michèle Stephenson asked when their own son, Idris, began struggling in a new school. As they filmed his experiences for their award-winning documentary American Promise, they met an array of researchers who had not only identified the reasons for the gap, but had come up with practical, innovative solutions to close it. In Promises Kept, they explain

• how to influence your son’s brain before he’s even born
• how to tell the difference between authoritarian and authoritative discipline—and why it matters
• how to create an educational program for your son that matches his needs
• how to prepare him for explicit and implicit racism in school and in the wider world
• how to help your child develop resilience, self-discipline, emotional intelligence, and a positive outlook that will last a lifetime

Filled with innovative research, practical strategies, and the voices of parents and children who are grappling with these issues firsthand, Promises Kept will challenge your assumptions and inspire you to make sure your child isn’t lost in the gap.

Praise for Promises Kept

“The authors offer a plethora of information and advice geared toward the specific developmental needs of black boys. . . . Thorough and detailed, this guidebook is also a call to action. As Brewster sees it, when people of color remain complacent, they not only break a tacit promise to future generations to achieve social equity, they also imperil the futures of both the nation and the planet. A practical and impassioned parenting guide.”—Kirkus Reviews

“A penetrating look at the standard practices, at school and at home, that contribute to the achievement gap between the races and the sexes that seems to put black boys at a disadvantage. [Brewster and Stephenson] debunk myths and offer ten parenting and education strategies to improve the prospects for black boys to help them overcome racial stereotypes and low expectations. . . . This is a practical and insightful look at the particular challenges of raising black males.”—Booklist

Critic reviews

“The authors offer a plethora of information and advice geared toward the specific developmental needs of black boys. . . . Thorough and detailed, this guidebook is also a call to action. As Brewster sees it, when people of color remain complacent, they not only break a tacit promise to future generations to achieve social equity, they also imperil the futures of both the nation and the planet. A practical and impassioned parenting guide.”—Kirkus Reviews

“A penetrating look at the standard practices, at school and at home, that contribute to the achievement gap between the races and the sexes that seems to put black boys at a disadvantage. [Brewster and Stephenson] debunk myths and offer ten parenting and education strategies to improve the prospects for black boys to help them overcome racial stereotypes and low expectations. . . . This is a practical and insightful look at the particular challenges of raising black males.”—Booklist

ALL PARENTS MUST READ THIS...

This book is great for bridging the gap and eliminating the bias that exists toward black boys

Must share

Great book! Most of the research mentioned validated my thoughts on the US educational system.

Informative and Awakening

This is a must read for new and veteran parents. The importance of what this book has to offer can not be overstated. Our children face challenges. This books gives guidance on how to meet and overcome those challenges. Must read or listen.

Very Interesting Information!

I was able to learn a lot of what I should do with my son. I was able to be more prepared this coming school year and get ahead of some things.

Must Have Resource for Parents and Educators

If you could sum up Promises Kept in three words, what would they be?

Promises Kept is an excellent resource for educators at all levels, parents, students, and anyone who is concerned about the development of talent in our society and sees it as their responsibility to develop that talent. America has building an educational system that separate and extremely unequal. Read Promises Kept, a hands on manual on how to develop resiliency in children, equip parents with the knowledge on how to engage the schools and teachers responsible for educating their children and above all how everyone can be part of the solution to end the achievement gap that is plaguing our country. This book will help you to understand your own educational strengths and weaknesses and what you can do to strengthen them. Let's promise to do everything we can to save ALL our children present and future.

What did you like best about this story?

The honesty of the filmmakers and their bravery in opening up about a subject that is so emotionally charged, and their ability to control their emotions to present this transformational masterpiece. Bless you.