Betrayal of a Promise: Black Women’s Narratives on Reckoning with Anti-blackness in Academia

• In Event: Race, Gender, and Discrimination

Abstract

This research examines the experiences of Black women in criminology graduate programs. Building upon existing literature investigating the impact of racial trauma in educational and professional settings, this study underscores the critical role Black women criminologists play in fostering innovative, inclusive, and data-driven approaches to reform the criminal legal system. Despite their significant contributions, the voices of Black women scholars are often marginalized within a system that perpetuates the very oppression they seek to dismantle. Employing a mixed-methods approach, this study uses both surveys and in-depth interviews to comprehensively explore the experiences of Black women in criminal justice/criminology doctoral programs and those who have earned Ph.D.s in these fields. By incorporating in-depth interviews, this research offers a nuanced understanding of the challenges and achievements by Black women scholars within the academy. The findings contribute to the development of institutional and individual strategies aimed at supporting and empowering Black women scholars, thereby fostering a more equitable and inclusive academic environment.

Authors

• Shenique Thomas-Davis, City University of New York

• Vivian C. Smith, Eastern University