Me and My Family: Ethnic Differences and Familial Influences on College-Going Motivations of Black Collegians

• In Event: 66.042 - Recentering the Margin(alized): Students of Color as Change Agents

Abstract

Our study offers a nuanced examination of how Black families influence academic achievement and college going by disaggregating data by ethnicity and nativity. Specifically, we explore how families shape the academic and college-going motivations of Black native students and Black immigrant students. Findings suggest that irrespective of ethnicity or nativity, students’ academic motivation typically stemmed from family, with students describing a family expectation that they go to college. Students’ self-motivation and future goal orientation also intersected with family as a source of motivation. Yet, distinctions emerged across ethnicity and nativity in perceptions of how family influenced academic motivation and the messages students received from family members about college-going and academic performance.

Authors

• Chrystal George Mwangi, University of Massachusetts - Amherst

• Nina Daoud, University of Maryland - College Park

• Kimberly Griffin, University of Maryland

• Shelvia English, University of Maryland - College Park