How Black Boys Deeply Impacted by the Crack Epidemic Navigated to Earn Doctoral Degrees

• In Event: Moscone Center North Roundtable Session 14
  In Roundtable Session: Educational Experiences of Black Men and Boys

Abstract

This comparative case study utilized oral histories to illuminate the life stories of three Black men who navigated their way through trauma. The goal of the study was to better understand how they navigated education and life experiences to eventually earn doctoral degrees. The key findings are that these men navigated trauma by (a) seeking out quality education, (b) developing strong self-agency, and (c) utilizing close proximity to success. The lives of the men in this study illustrate that with the right support, Black males can overcome the most traumatic experiences and achieve academically at the highest level.

Author

• Charles La Von Cole, San Francisco State University