DeShea's Dream Deferred: A Case Study of a Talented Urban Artist

Abstract

Artistically talented students from culturally diverse populations exist in urban environments; however, school systems often fail to provide appropriate art programs and prevent young people from realizing their highest potential. In this account of a talented young artist whose needs were not met by educators in an urban high school, the author tells of a teenager's struggle to find a place for himself in his community and describes the resulting problems with the teen's academic underachievement. The findings of the study offer educators helpful suggestions for addressing the educational needs of artistically talented youth in urban settings.