This paper presents an account and analysis of the experiences of secondary and primary aged children of African Caribbean origin and mixed `race' children in Britain, from the perspectives of the parents themselves. Themes that have emerged from the interview data include: teachers' low expectations of black children's academic ability; negative stereotyping of the children; and disrespectful treatment. The parents describe a situation where many of their children, despite their efforts to play a positive role, repeatedly find themselves in trouble. Whilst the daughters of the parents in the study also at times endured negative experiences, the parents were particularly concerned about their sons. This led a number of parents to express the sentiments encapsulated in the title which I have adapted from the words of one mother ("It's African Caribbean males - there is a war against them" and another mother said: "There is an onslaught against our male children"). It will be argued that the issues described create a pattern of experience which for many of the children results in school imposed exclusion or in the face of a situation they feel has rejected them or failed them in various ways, withdrawing themselves from school. All of the respondents expressed concerns about their children's education either in terms of their doubts about the ability or willingness of the education system to meet their children's needs or, as in the majority of cases, in terms of the actual day to day experience their children were having in school. The discussion is set within a national context where black children (of African-Caribbean origin) are one of the lowest achieving minority ethnic groups in the UK and are disproportionately one of the highest ethnic groups of children excluded from school. We have interviewed 30 parents: five fathers (three couples) and 25 mothers. A semi-structured/unstructured interview technique was used to collect the data; all interviews were recorded and transcribed and analysed, employing a grounded theory approach. Two white researchers, male and female, carried out the interviews. The issues surrounding the role of white researchers researching `black issues' and researching `black issues' has been discussed elsewhere (Crozier 2003).The research findings contribute further to our understanding from previous classroom and school based research (carried out by eg Gillborn & Youdell 2000; Sewell 1997; Mac an Ghaill 1988) of the school experiences of children from African Caribbean origin in particular, and the reasons why they are underachieving in the education system. The research should have relevance within both the UK and European contexts in helping practitioners develop understanding of the need to tackle discriminatory practices, challenge institutional racism and address cultural diversity. References Crozier, G. (2003) Researching Black Parents: making sense of the role of research and the researcher Qualitative Research.3:1. pp79-94 Gillborn, D. & Youdell, D. (2000) Rationing Education. Buckingham: Open University Press Mac an Ghaill, M. (1988) Young Gifted and Black. Buckingham: Open University Press Sewell, T. (1997) Black Masculinities and Schooling. How Black Boys Survive Modern Schooling. Stoke-on-Trent: Trentham Books