Contents -- Preface -- 1. Introduction to Oppositional Culture -- 2. Discrimination and Barriers: Basis for Black Cynicism toward Schooling -- 3. Origins of Youth Perceptions of Opportunity on Academic Achievement -- 4. Effects of Youth Perceptions of Opportunity on Academic Achievement -- 5. Racial Differences in Academic Orientation of Youth -- 6. Should Blacks Become Raceless to Improve Achievement? -- 7. Shifting the Focus Away from Culture and toward Prior Skills -- 8. Does Marginalization Equal Resistance to Schooling? A Class-Based Analysis -- 9. Refocusing Understanding of Racial Differences in Academic Outcomes -- Appendix A: Note of Caution about Testing -- Appendix B: Sources of Data -- Appendix C: Methodological Appendix -- Appendix D: Description of Measures -- Notes -- Bibliography -- Acknowledgments -- Index.