Unheard and Unseen

Abstract

This narrative study is based on stories told by African American adolescents experiencing homelessness. It offers insights into their lived experiences and describes the challenges faced in negotiating the urban education system. African American youth are disproportionately represented in the adolescent homeless demographic. “Unheard and unseen” in the dominant narrative, the needs of this population often go unmet. The educational and social service systems frequently place barriers, and blame, that impede the academic achievement of these youth. The dominant narrative is often viewed from the perspective of “what is wrong with ‘those’ kids?” This research shifts the perspective to “what is occurring within the larger system?”