When They (Fail to) See Us: An Analysis of Gendered, Anti-Black Incidents Targeting Black Women College Students

• In Event: Narrating Black Girl Space and Womanhood

Abstract

FBI hate-crime statistics indicate more than half of the race-related incidents on college campuses are anti-Black in nature. Incidents of anti-black racism on campus have gained national attention, yet no existing studies specifically center Black women college students (BWCS) who are targeted. The purpose of this paper is to share the findings of a cross-case analysis of gendered, anti-black campus incidents targeting BWCS from 2012-2020. The study analyzes how BWCS experience gendered anti-blackness and how institutions responded. We frame this study using Patton & Njoku’s (2019) institution-sanctioned violence concept, which is grounded in intersectionality and underscores how misogyny, racism and anti-blackness collectively shape BWCS experiences. We offer conclusions and implications for intersectional interventions in higher education.

Authors

• Lori Patton Davis, The Ohio State University

• Chayla Haynes Davison, Texas A&M University - College Station

• Jasmine Abukar, The Ohio State University - Columbus