The suspension and expulsion of ethnic minority students, especially African American males, remains a critical issue in schools today. This book addresses the root causes of racial disparity in discipline. Dr. Bireda shows how culturally conditioned beliefs and cultural misunderstanding negatively impact teacher-student relationships and interactions in the classroom. In addition, factors in the school climate that may precipitate and escalate disciplinary events are examined. Ultimately, Cultures In Conflict provides a framework which assists administrators and teachers in establishing a dialogue on issues related to race and culture, and provides a set of strategies for reducing disciplinary events and referrals.

During this difficult time in our nation's history, with the focus on "racial reckoning", it is crucial that Americans understand when and how our "race-based hierarchy" came to be invented. The Promise of Whiteness: Its Past and Its Future explores the psycho-social impact of the promise of "whiteness" upon the past and present-day race relations in the United States. The "promise of whiteness"-which includes the "place", "privilege" or advantages of whiteness, the "power" bestowed by whiteness, and the "protection" from punishment for violence toward blacks-is examined. Crucial to the book's concept is a discussion of the psychological needs met by whiteness and the needs, fears, anxieties, and dissonance produced as well. Finally, the book questions if the "promise of whiteness" is still viable in America as it has evolved into a multiracial society, and recommends that Americans, as a nation, commit to an equal society for all members regardless of race or social class. This book expands on several chapters previously published in A Time for Change: How White Supremacy Ideology Harms All Americans.

How did America become a nation obsessed with race? A Time for Change explores America's beginnings as a "class-based" society, the creation of America's racial consciousness through the invention of the social construction of "whiteness", and the ways in which white supremacist ideology has been infused, reinforced and perpetuated in the collective American mind and culture through the utilization of stereotypical images of blacks. The purpose of the book is to explore how the ideology of white supremacy has done immeasurable damage to all Americans, whites as well as blacks and other persons of color. In this context, the relationship between racism and classism is explored. The book provides an opportunity by which those Americans who identify and are perceived as "white" can engage in a process of self-reflection to transcend one's attachment to the social construction of "whiteness" and white supremacy ideology that have been forced upon them. It is the premise of this book that racial healing in this nation can only occur through a true examination of America's history, as well as individual and collective responsibility and efforts to undo over 300 years of racist cultural conditioning.

Schooling Poor Minority Children: New Segregation in the Post-Brown Era explores the "redesign of school segregation" and explains why resegregation of schools in the post-Brown era is so destructive for poor minority students. The book provides an answer to why schools that serve predominately poor minority students remain "low performing" or "failing" schools. The concept of stigmatizing school environments is explored and Socially Responsive Pedagogy is recommended as a model for transforming the culture and climate of low achieving schools. The author suggests that a "fourth crusade" to ensure equal educational opportunities for poor minority students is needed.

Why does racism, conscious and unconscious, remain a persistent issue in American society? From blackface worn by public officials to a school district’s forcing of the removal of a Black History Month display, beliefs and opinions related to racism are pervasive and widespread in the collective American mind. America’s racist legacy cannot and will not be changed until historically entrenched beliefs are confronted, challenged, and changed. While focusing on the specific issues that educators face in addressing and eliminating racial disparity in disciplinary perceptions and referrals, the reflective exercises provided in this book are valuable to any reader who wishes to examine programmed unconscious beliefs that can lead to racist behaviors. This is a book that helps the reader to understand the source, purpose, and ways in which stereotypical beliefs and images have been and continue to be reinforced in our present society. Reflective Discipline is a timely and especially significant book for this time in American life. The exercises can be utilized not only in educational but in other environments, i.e. law enforcement, social service, etc. in which understanding the forces that perpetuate racist beliefs in our society are important to ensuring fair and equitable treatment of all.

Referrals, suspensions, and expulsions of African American students, especially males, are at an all-time high. However, as this book shows, culturally determined assumptions and friction over communication have a role to play in this as well. Eliminating Racial Profiling in School Discipline is designed to make readers aware of how cultural factors relate to the ways that discipline is meted out. Administrators and teachers will gain an understanding of how culturally conditioned beliefs and assumptions negatively influence student-teacher relationships. Ultimately, this book proposes a set of strategies to solve increased disciplinary referrals.

The suspension and expulsion of ethnic minority students, especially African American males, remains a critical issue in schools today. This book addresses the root causes of racial disparity in discipline. Dr. Bireda shows how culturally conditioned beliefs and cultural misunderstanding negatively impact teacher-student relationships and interactions in the classroom. In addition, factors in the school climate that may precipitate and escalate disciplinary events are examined. Ultimately, Cultures In Conflict provides a framework which assists administrators and teachers in establishing a dialogue on issues related to race and culture, and provides a set of strategies for reducing disciplinary events and referrals.

Our children are in trouble. Of course, not all of them, but enough to consider that African American youth are in a "crisis of values." Many of the problems that our youth experience regardless of socioeconomic status, have their roots in the inculcation of values that are the antithesis of their true cultural values. This book is intended to be a guide for African American adults, parents, family members, neighbors, teachers all those who care about our children and desire to help them reclaim and reconnect with their true identity and true culture. We hope to provide concrete ways that adults can both model and talk to our children about the traditional beliefs and values that will enrich and in many cases save their lives. This book was introduced at the National Black Child Development Institute Conference held in October 2007 in Chicago.

Pathway To Change; A Guide to Personal Transformation provides a "path" or blueprint to free the reader from the societal limitations, personal myths, and erroneous beliefs that prevent the full experience and expression of one's personal power. Pathway to Change - Addresses the four crucial issues that contribute to one's being "stuck" in patterns that are non-productive and self-destructive; a sense of victimization; a sense of powerlessness; the experience of a crisis in values; and spiritual emptiness. Helps reader to overcome "being a victim." Helps the reader to understand "the dynamics of power." Offers an alternative to the value system based on consumerism and materialism. Provides a way for the reader to re-connect to a sense of purpose. Creates an awareness of the root causes of the feelings, choices, and behaviors that keep one disempowered. Provides a system for modifying negative and self-destructive beliefs and values. Includes exercises for helping one to develop skills in managing emotions, problems solving, decision-making, and life planning. Provides strategies for applying the cognitive restructuring concepts discussed in the book to one's major life arenas, e.g. personal relationships, employment, etc. A reader-friendly way to understand how to change one's life from disempowerment to empowerment. In the over 25 years of her professional career, Dr. Bireda has been committed to the empowerment of individuals and groups. From co-dependency counselor to equity consultant, she has facilitated groups, developed curricula, and written about issues of empowerment. Dr. Bireda's previous work and experience with socio/cultural issues, enabled her to develop Pathway toChange, a program that has been remarkable in its ability to transform the lives of the individuals who used it.

The traditional values by the pioneers that settled the Trabue Woods community in South West Florida enabled the community to survive and to thrive. These values passed genration to generation, from 1885 to the late 1960's, were learned by the author herself as a girl growing up in the Trabue Woods community. Using old photographs and newspaper articles, the 8 core values learned by the children of Trabue Woods are shared with young readers ages 8-12. The values taught in Trabue Woods are typical of those held by the descendants of slaves who established communities after the turn of the century.

During this difficult time in our nation's history, with the focus on "racial reckoning", it is crucial that Americans understand when and how our "race-based hierarchy" came to be invented. The Promise of Whiteness: Its Past and Its Future explores the psycho-social impact of the promise of "whiteness" upon the past and present-day race relations in the United States. The "promise of whiteness"-which includes the "place", "privilege" or advantages of whiteness, the "power" bestowed by whiteness, and the "protection" from punishment for violence toward blacks-is examined. Crucial to the book's concept is a discussion of the psychological needs met by whiteness and the needs, fears, anxieties, and dissonance produced as well. Finally, the book questions if the "promise of whiteness" is still viable in America as it has evolved into a multiracial society, and recommends that Americans, as a nation, commit to an equal society for all members regardless of race or social class. This book expands on several chapters previously published in A Time for Change: How White Supremacy Ideology Harms All Americans.

How did America become a nation obsessed with race? A Time for Change explores America's beginnings as a "class-based" society, the creation of America's racial consciousness through the invention of the social construction of "whiteness", and the ways in which white supremacist ideology has been infused, reinforced and perpetuated in the collective American mind and culture through the utilization of stereotypical images of blacks. The purpose of the book is to explore how the ideology of white supremacy has done immeasurable damage to all Americans, whites as well as blacks and other persons of color. In this context, the relationship between racism and classism is explored. The book provides an opportunity by which those Americans who identify and are perceived as "white" can engage in a process of self-reflection to transcend one's attachment to the social construction of "whiteness" and white supremacy ideology that have been forced upon them. It is the premise of this book that racial healing in this nation can only occur through a true examination of America's history, as well as individual and collective responsibility and efforts to undo over 300 years of racist cultural conditioning.

Why does racism, conscious and unconscious, remain a persistent issue in American society? From blackface worn by public officials to a school district’s forcing of the removal of a Black History Month display, beliefs and opinions related to racism are pervasive and widespread in the collective American mind. America’s racist legacy cannot and will not be changed until historically entrenched beliefs are confronted, challenged, and changed. While focusing on the specific issues that educators face in addressing and eliminating racial disparity in disciplinary perceptions and referrals, the reflective exercises provided in this book are valuable to any reader who wishes to examine programmed unconscious beliefs that can lead to racist behaviors. This is a book that helps the reader to understand the source, purpose, and ways in which stereotypical beliefs and images have been and continue to be reinforced in our present society. Reflective Discipline is a timely and especially significant book for this time in American life. The exercises can be utilized not only in educational but in other environments, i.e. law enforcement, social service, etc. in which understanding the forces that perpetuate racist beliefs in our society are important to ensuring fair and equitable treatment of all.

Schooling Poor Minority Children: New Segregation in the Post-Brown Era explores the 'redesign of school segregation' and explains why resegregation of schools in the post-Brown era is so destructive for poor minority students. The book provides an answer to why schools that serve predominately poor minority students remain 'low performing' or 'failing' schools. The concept of stigmatizing school environments is explored and Socially Responsive Pedagogy is recommended as a model for transforming the culture and climate of low achieving schools. The author suggests that a 'fourth crusade' to ensure equal educational opportunities for poor minority students is needed.