The teacher notes that children come to school to obtain skills and an awareness of life that eventually should lead to their personal liberation. He also points out that many young black males in urban settings are not succeeding in school and lead lives of hopeless desperation, and that this population has not been adequately researched. In addition, the role of culture and the attendant world view of both schools and learners need further exploration because trying to educate young black males without considering their culture is not effective. The author recounts his experiences as a teacher with gang bangers, players, group behavior, hustlers, sports jocks, achievers, and cultural patterns in schools and communities. 13 references