Prestige or Peril: Experiences of Black Doctoral Students at a Predominately White Institution

• In Event: Voices Unheard: Exploring Diverse Perspectives on BIPOC Experiences in Higher Education

Abstract

This autoethnographic study examined the experiences of three Black women as they reflected on their experiences in non-faculty higher education roles and full-time doctoral students at a mid-west, predominately white institution (PWI). The discussions took place through the methodological approach of sister circles, which centers the voices of individual experiences of Black women. Engaged in six sister circle sessions, occurring in various settings and modes, these women reflected on Black womanhood, challenges in academia, family dynamics and the workplace experiences. Black Feminist Thought (BFT) provided a theoretical foundation that both grounded the discussions and guided the analysis of data.

Authors

• Ramarra Garrett, Eastern Michigan University

• Michelle D. Taylor, Wayne State University

• Anglesia Brown, Wayne State University