The achievement gap refers to the stark difference that occurs between racial or gender groups, as one group performs significantly higher than the other. An achievement gap has the propensity to produce psychological distress, as well as buffering techniques that are necessary for survival and success. Growing research shows that African American college students experience unique levels of trauma, shame, hardship, macro, and micro-aggressions, suggesting that these students learn to self-preserve as early as 10 years old. This study used a Pearson correlation, Independent T-Test, and a Moderated Multiple Regression to explore the impact of the achievement gap on shame and resilience in African American college students. There was a total of 274 participants in this study. Results indicated that as students achieve more, they are more likely to experience higher shame levels. Secondly, the results suggested that there was not a significant difference between the amount of shame that African American and White college students experienced. Lastly, the results indicated that resilience does not lessen the amount of shame that an African American college student experienced. However, the researcher discussed the many reasons why the results of this study pointed in this direction
