This article presents the results of two studies; the first of which offers insight into how three African American boys did and did not utilize a critical literacy stance to interpret texts while the second gives specific suggestions for how teachers might select and use texts in ways that foster students' critical literacy abilities. Results from the first study suggest that the boys enjoyed reading texts that fit their definitions of the world around them. They did not view their ideas as open to question or change, and they seemed to view ideas in texts as either accurate or inaccurate interpretations of the world. Results from the second study suggest that teachers believe there are a number of ways they can use texts to help students question their own ideas, the ideas that dominant society, and the actions that they engage in. (Contains 3 tables.)