The Impact of Academic Climate on Black Women's Experiences in Higher Education

Abstract

The theoretical framework of the study is based on Black feminist theory that focuses on institutional racism and sexism. The author describes exclusionary experiences in academia, which also constitute her own personal narrative, since she herself is a living testimony of the institutional isms that many women of color endure while obtaining their graduate degree. The research design incorporates a critical narrative analysis of self-reflective interviews with seven Black women about their experiences at several graduate programs in the United States. Self-reflection entails analytical introspection, continuous reconstruction of knowledge, and the recurring transformation of beliefs and skills. Obstacles identified are analyzed here to formulate suggestions for improving policy objectives as these relate to Black women in academia.