Early Career Development of African American Boys by Marc
Anderson Grimmett If you ask an African American boy in the 3rd
grade what he wants to be when he grows up, he may respond
“professional athlete, entertainer, or police man.” Occupational
aspirations are likely to reflect what he has been exposed to in
his social environment. Parents, caregivers, teachers,
neighborhood adults, as well as school, church, television,
magazines, internet, radio, and even video games all provide
information for his developing career template. Children at this
developmental stage tend to aspire to occupations that hold the
most interest for them, but are influenced by perceived gender
roles. For African American boys, race often plays an important
role in occupational aspirations as well (Gottfredson, 2002).
Intentional career development interventions for African
American boys are needed because their early career context is
unique. African American males are overrepresented in special
education (and in the juvenile justic