Outsiders Within: Black Faculty in U.S. Higher Education

• In Event: Marriott Roundtable Session 28
  In Roundtable Session: Recruitment, Retention, and Persistence of Minoritized Faculty

Abstract

Black faculty are drastically underrepresented in academia. We consider how antiblackness creates obstacles for Black faculty from recruitment to tenure, and the specifics of misogynoir. We also employ Critical Race Theory to examine diversity as a higher education ideal, despite entrenched racism and white supremacy. Utilizing data from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System we look to full-time Black faculty gender and tenure status across select public, four-year institutional types. At flagship and Black-Serving Institutions, tenured and tenure-track Black faculty are grossly underrepresented. Across the sample Black faculty, especially Black women, are concentrated among non-tenure-track positions. Contrastingly, Historically Black Colleges and Universities far more successfully hire and promote Black faculty. We must reimagine academia with Black faculty included and thriving.

Authors

• Channel McLewis, University of California - Los Angeles

• Chantal Jones, University of California - Los Angeles

• Gadise Regassa, University of California - Los Angeles

• Walter R. Allen, University of California - Los Angeles