“My Mom Was My Backbone”: The Importance of Community Practices and Support of Student Debt-Free, First-Generation Black Women

• In Event: Financial Wellness, Support Networks, and Community Wealth: Providing Access, Persistence, and Equity for College Students

Abstract

This paper explores the experiences of first-generation Black women who completed at least a bachelor's degree without accruing student loan debt.  In particular, this paper examines a community's significant role in informing financial decisions and supporting first-generation Black women in completing debt-free degrees.  While Black women are statistically the most burdened by student loan debt, little is known about the experiences of those who navigated college without student loans. I developed the endarkened financial socialization model as the framework to center Black women's financial narratives. Findings emphasize the critical role of family, community, and institutional support in shaping Black women's financial understandings and debt-avoidance strategies.

Author

• Candace Marie Henry, University of South Florida