Black Women and Education: Navigating Systems of Oppression

• In Event: 51.079 - MTCC Roundtable Session 22
  In Roundtable Session: 51.079-3 - Women of Color in Higher Education

Abstract

Black women possess the intersectionality of the double minority, African-American and female. Stereotypes of them have progressed from the mammy, jezebel, and sapphire to that of the trap queen or superwoman. For the purposes of this paper, we will explore Black feminism and male-created social stereotypes through the lens of the educational system. Further, in this paper we will examine the support Black women and girls receive from school systems to meet the almost unattainable demands and requirements of high-risk schools. In the research for this paper, we will highlight the need of researchers to better examine how Black women can be adequately supported within the American education system.
Key words: black women, stereotypes, education system, social norms

Authors

• RaKeema Thomas Toussaint, Louisiana State University

• London Moore, Louisiana State University

• Paul Sampson, Louisiana State University