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Media Portrayals: Minority boys are significantly underrepresented in positive media roles and educational leadership

• UCLA Center for Scholars & Storytellers, Uhls et al. / 2024: Teens and Screens: The Need for Positive Representation for Boys of Color
• Educational Administration Quarterly, Rodriguez & Smith / 2025: The Missing Mentors: Racial Disparities in Educational Leadership

Identity Formation: Representation shapes aspirations and perceived legitimacy in institutions

• Child Development, Chen & Johnson / 2024: Mirrors and Windows: How Media Representation Shapes Academic Aspirations
• Psychological Science, Williams / 2025: Perceived Legitimacy and Institutional Belonging Among Boys of Color

The “Deficit” Frame: Moving beyond narratives of trauma to highlight success and resilience

• American Educational Research Journal (AERA), Harper / 2024: Reframing the Narrative: Asset-Based Approaches to the Success of Black and Latino Males
• Journal of Youth Development, Martinez et al. / 2025: Beyond the Trauma Plot: Cultivating Resilience and Joy in Youth of Color