Anthony A. Pittman, the son of Ellis and Viola Pittman and maternal grandson of the late Sadie L. Washington McQueen and paternal grandchild of Elouise Page, recently published with the Peter Lang Publishing Group in New York City.
His book, Whited Out: Unique Perspectives on Black Identity and Honors Achievement, is also available in German, and is Pittman’s debut with the company. Using participation in an honors curriculum as a symbol of explicitly recognized intelligence at the collegiate level, Whited Out explores the identities of several Black collegiate honors students, focusing in particular on how they think about race, achievement, and social engagement.
The book sheds new light on why some Black students experience academic success and some do not, a press release about the book, said. According to Pittman’s research, the press release saied, conventional scholars in the field of education have asserted that underachievement by Black students may be attributed to cultural deprivation or genetic deficiencies.
Hypotheses like these have led to the proliferation of theories that Black students are inferior when compared to their White counterparts. Despite such assertions, some Blacks have been able to succeed academically. Commonly expressed themes in recent literature suggest that intelligent Black students must cross cultural and racial boundaries to be successful academically.
Consequently, Black students who experience academic success are often perceived as “acting White.” Pittman’s book illustrates why “acting White” should not be among the rationales upon which many scholars predicate their arguments for the existing disparity between Black and White students’ academic performance.
A 1990 graduate of Dillon High School and 1994 alumnus of South Carolina State University, Pittman earned advanced degrees in education and administration from the University of Massachusetts, Lowell; the University of Kentucky, Lexington; and Sacred Heart University, where he served as the director of undergraduate education. He earned his Ph D. from the University of Connecticut, Storrs in 2003.
He is a former educator for the South Carolina Public Schools and is presently Assistant Professor of Instruction and Curriculum in the College of Education at Kean University in Union, N.J., where he also serves as the academic coordinator of the Transition to Teaching Collaborative Grant.
Pittman has authored several forthcoming book chapters and articles and is currently working on a second book that will be released in 2010. His research agenda focuses on the achievement gap and the disproportionate percentages of students of color enrolled in gifted and talented, collegiate honors education, and similarly structured programs.
Information on Whited Out is available at www.peterlang.com.
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