Navigating Marginality Beyond the Shadows: Unveiling the Somali-Jareer Bantu Experience in Academia

• In Event: Illuminating College Access: Shedding Light on College Readiness and Transition Experiences

Abstract

Using interpretative phenomenology, this study aims to explore the lived experiences of Somali-Jareer Bantu students as they transition to formal schooling in the US while navigating their multiple identities in higher education. Data analysis leveraged Anzaldúa’s (2012) borderlands consciousness to provide interpretive insights into the complexities of their experiences of navigating multiple identities within higher education. Findings indicate that these students grapple with feelings of ethnic invisibility and othering in the academy. Results also provide insights from which higher education institutions can embark on a journey to recognize and serve the presence of Somali-Jareer Bantu students. This effort will serve as a step forward to raise global awareness of their presence in higher education and further improve their educational journeys.

Author

• Lul M. Baba, University of Illinois at Chicago