"Claiming the Dream": Students of Color Navigating, Surviving, and Thriving in Public Higher Education

• In Event: “Surviving” White Supremacy: Students of Color Realizing Dreams and Imagining Possibilities in Spite of Challenge

Abstract

This paper analyzes the experiences of college students of color attending a public university categorized as a Predominantly White Institution (PWI) and highlights triumphs, achievements, and ways in which this population has carved out a space for themselves at such institution. Crenshaw's (1989) theory of Intersectionality and Anzaldua's (1987) Borderlands Theory are used as frameworks for analyzing qualitative data. Findings suggest that while students struggle to feel fully supported at their institution, they believe their challenging experience will benefit future students, by paving a smoother “road”. This research adds to the insertion of student of color voices into literature and combats simply focusing on this population from a deficit by sharing stories of overcoming adversity and achieving dreams.

Author

• Cecilia Elizabeth Suarez, University of Florida