"Okay, Let Me Try Something": Black Women Navigating Interactions With College Professors

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session 15
  In Roundtable Session: Reclaiming Our Time: Stories of Black Women Resistance in Educational Settings

Abstract

Black women’s experiences in all levels of education are largely understudied despite being one of the most highly-educated demographic groups in the United States. Interactions with professors can make or break students’ experiences, enjoyment, and retention in college. This study analyzes twenty-five Black women’s reflections on their interactions with professors in their first year of college. Three themes emerged surrounding how Black girls navigated their interactions with their professors: demanding justice and respect, agency over academic success, and compassion and empathy toward professors. These thematic findings offer insight into the communicative and interactive strengths Black women and girls utilize to succeed in higher education.

Author

• August Taylor G Smith, The City University of New York