Three Strikes and You Win: Low-Income, African American, Single Mothers and Their Daughters’ Successful College Academia

• In Event: Roundtable Session 14
  In Roundtable Session: Black Women’s Experience in Higher Education Spaces

Abstract

The ubiquity with which academically successful African American female collegians from single mothered homes pervade college campuses is severely understudied. The critical issue, we assert, is the saturation of pathologizing research. This case study focuses on the power and salience low-income, African American, single-mothers utilize in grooming their daughters towards college academic success. Solely relying on the daughter’s perception we find that the mother’s a). socio-cultural identity fostered the daughter’s unwavering academic stamina b). embracing of her “oppressive” demographics built their daughter’s character and world perspective c). authoritative parenting style and praise internally admonished and motivated the daughter, and d). trusting of her daughter facilitated her in unquestionably meeting high academic expectations.

Authors

• Johnitha Watkins Johnson, University of Houston

• Norvella P. Carter, Texas A&M University

• Chance W. Lewis, University of North Carolina - Charlotte