TY  - SER
AU  - Show less David T. Lardier, 
AU  - Jr., Kathryn G. Herr, 
AU  - Veronica R. Barrios, 
AU  - Pauline Garcia-Reid, 
AU  - Robert J. Reid
TI  - Merit in Meritocracy: Uncovering the Myth of Exceptionality and Self-Reliance Through the Voices of Urban Youth of Color
PY  - 2019///
PB  - Sage
KW  - meritocracy,
KW  - exceptionality
KW  -  self-reliance
KW  -  empowerment–social capital
KW  -  urban youth
N2  - A disproportionate number of urban youth attend underresourced and segregated schools. While tenets of the American Dream are inculcated in urban youth, a dearth of educational resources is available to help realize this dream. This qualitative study explored the narratives of urban youth (N = 85), many of whom sought to be the exceptions, embracing higher education as a pathway to successful futures, yet few identified resources that would make access to higher education possible. The capital accrued in their communities allowed them to navigate their social environment; however, it was an insufficient bridge for future success in higher education. Furthermore, they espoused a belief in their own self-reliance as the one resource on which they could count on. Ironically, the youth also accepted “not making it” a result of their own shortcomings. We link findings to empowerment agents who would cultivate both bridging capital and critical consciousness among/for youth
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1177/0013124517727583
ER  -