What has it meant to produce knowledge and to teach at the intersection of English literature and Black Studies? This dissertation asks after the history and function of Black literary studies as it emerged as an academic discipline in the late 20th century U.S. academy. I propose that Black literary studies' institutional knowledge project is…

This study explores obstacles to career advancement faced by black female staff in Higher education. Through interviews and surveys, key factors impacting this population are identified and a solution is proposed in the form of an action plan. Interviews exposed the issue of isolation, lack of support, and a need for early training for both…

Purpose and Method of Study: The purpose of this qualitative transcendental (descriptive) phenomenological study was to investigate and document the lived experiences of African American (AA) female graduate students utilizing Afrocentric mentoring paradigms at PWIs. I examined the challenges caused by institutional racism in PWIs and whether…

In our political and cultural climate, where America is recovering from a pandemic, affirmative action is no longer the law of the land, DEI programs are being cut, and African American history and heritage are being denied and eradicated; how do African Americans navigate white spaces? How do African American leaders obtain a seat at the table?…

Black faculty, staff, and students are experiencing anti-Blackness in higher education that is deeply rooted in the racialized legacy of the United States. The roots and effects of anti-Blackness, afro-pessimism, and Afrofuturism were investigated. Scholars argue Black existence is imagined and acted upon through the historic lens of the…

Despite research on the educational experiences of Black male nontraditional students, limited inquiry is specific to how they understand, perceive, and make sense of those encounters. This qualitative study focused on the educational experiences of Black male nontraditional students at a predominantly White institution. An Afrocentric paradigm…

This qualitative interview study explores the beliefs, feelings, and opinions held by the staff, faculty, and administrators who operationalize the Umoja student support programs on campuses within a southern California Community College district. Schiele's Afrocentric organization theory is the framework for this study. The six tenets derived…

For this study, the researcher sought to implement a visual arts-based Afrivisual to help inspire, motivate and empower African American students in gaining a culturally relevant education in Euro-American-centered schools. Using the Afrivisual in this work as an action-oriented tool the researcher sought to expose African American students to an…