Georgia Southern University Digital Commons@Georgia Southern Electronic Theses and Dissertations Graduate Studies, Jack N. Averitt College of Spring 2015 The Obama Effect on fricanA American High School Males Aundra Simmons Vaughn Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/etd Part of the Education Commons, and the Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons Recommended Citation Vaughn, Aundra Simmons, "The Obama Effect on fricanA American High School Males" (2015). Electronic Theses & Dissertations. This dissertation (open access) is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Studies, Jack N. Averitt College of at Digital Commons@Georgia Southern. It has been accepted for inclusion in Electronic Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons@Georgia Southern. For more information, please contact
[email protected]. 1 THE OBAMA EFFECT ON AFRICAN AMERCAN HIGH SCHOOL MALES by AUNDRA SIMMONS VAUGHN (Under the Direction of Paul M. Brinson) ABSTRACT “Of all the challenges in education today, I can think of none greater than the challenge of motivating, educating, and empowering black male learners” (Kafele, 2012, p. 67). Research documents the struggles of African American males in society and education. There is concern among educators for role models for young people to emulate (Lines, 2001). To explore President Obama as a role model and the impact of his historic election on African American recent high school male graduates, a qualitative research study was used. A phenomenological design helped described the “essence” of the phenomenon— the election of an African American president—from the perspectives of African American high school males.