Lisa Delpit: “Multiplication is for White People”: Raising Expectations for Other People’s Children

“Multiplication is for white people.” The title comes from a quote by a young African American boy who became frustrated while completing his math homework. Today, this statement probably seems ridiculous to most. However, this view of black students as being inferior to white students in their ability to learn arguably still permeates the educational system. “Multiplication is for White People: Raising Expectations for Other People’s Children,” is Lisa Delpit’s update nearly 20 years later to her previous book, “Other People’s Children.” Her first book analyzed the relationship between white teachers and black students and discussed issues such as prejudice and cultural assumptions in the classroom. This new book provides updated research to her previous work and includes the impact of recent initiatives such as the No Child Left Behind Act and standardized testing. Her writing is based on both her own experience in dozens of American schools today and the findings from other researchers. Delpit divides her findings into stages of development, beginning by providing research to support the notion that African Americans are not born with any lesser ability than whites. She moves on to discuss early stages of development, and then to the entry of children into the classroom. Delpit continues by discussing differences in how adolescents of different races are taught in middle schools and high schools. Finally, she argues that the issues addressed continue beyond, even into college where often there are still lower expectations for individuals in minority groups. …