(Re)Framing Black Immigrant Identity, Inclusion, and Achievement in Educational Institutions

• In Event: Contemporary Perspectives on Higher Education Achievement and Access

Abstract

Hailing from 54 African nations, all Caribbean islands, and Latin America, the U.S. Black immigrant population has quadrupled to 3.8 million since the 1980s. While sharing racialized experiences with African Americans, the single-story framing Black immigrant achievement has been used by scholars to position them as model Black minorities. Current studies paint a simplistic portrait of the immigrants' academic experiences and ignore the complexities of their identities. This practice further contributes to the diasporic divide, diminishing the power and possibilities to galvanize for systemic change. Drawing from qualitative data sources, this paper highlights issues and challenges Black immigrant students experience as they navigate U.S. higher education. We conclude with recommendations for socially-inclusive policies.

Authors

• Janet T. Awokoya, California Lutheran University

• Chonika Coleman King, University of Florida