Final answer:
The concept being described is known as stereotype threat, which can negatively impact the performance of African American students on standardized tests. This issue is rooted in systemic problems such as educational inequality and cultural bias in testing, and can also extend to professional discrimination in hiring practices. The correct answer is stereotype threat.
Step-by-step explanation:
The phenomenon where some African American students may perform poorly on standardized tests due to fears that their performance may reflect badly on their group is known as stereotype threat. This social-psychological predicament occurs when individuals are at risk of confirming negative stereotypes about their racial, ethnic, gender, or cultural group. It can cause high anxiety and reduce the working memory capacity, thereby impairing performance.
Stereotype threat is exacerbated by systemic issues such as educational inequality and cultural bias in testing. For example, there has been historical evidence, such as in the case of Larry P. v. Riles, that standardized testing methods used to assess students with learning disabilities can be culturally unfair and resulted in a disproportionate identification of African American children as having disabilities. This kind of discrimination can perpetuate educational disparities and reinforce existing power structures.
Beyond education, stereotypes can also affect professional environments, as evidenced by research showing that job applicants may receive biased treatment based on stereotypes, affecting both their behavior in interviews and the interviewer's perception, potentially leading to prejudice and discrimination in hiring practices.