Losing Herself to Save Herself: Perspectives on Conservatism and Concepts of Self for Black Women Aspiring to the HBCU Presidency

Hypatia ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 441-463 ◽  
Author(s):  
Felecia Commodore
Keyword(s):  
Black Women ◽  
Historically Black ◽  
Women Leaders ◽  
Black Colleges ◽  
Historically Black Colleges ◽  
Women Presidents ◽  
Black Feminist ◽  
Gender Parity ◽  
Black Women Leaders ◽  
Black Colleges And Universities

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) often come under criticism for being havens of conservatism (Harper and Gasman 2008). This conservatism can be found intertwined in some HBCUs’ presidential hiring processes. Focusing on the lack of gender parity in the HBCU presidency, through a Black Feminist Theory lens, I argue that HBCUs using these practices for the selection of Black women presidents create a conflict of self for aspirants who do not authentically subscribe to or perform conservatism. The philosophical ideas of authenticity, self‐esteem, and self‐respect are explored to explain how these expectations create barriers to aspirants achieving their goals and their authentic selves. Subjecting Black women leaders to these practices oppresses aspirants’ need for authenticity and leads to the replication of these conservative ideologies. I conclude that these barriers, in turn, narrow the HBCU presidential pipeline and perpetuate a lack of gender parity in HBCU leadership.

Strategies for Support: Black Women Faculty Career Advancement at Historically Black Colleges and Universities

2021 ◽  
pp. 002193472110478
Author(s):  
Andrea Del Priore
Keyword(s):  
Black Women ◽  
Historically Black ◽  
Career Advancement ◽  
Black Colleges ◽  
Colleges And Universities ◽  
Women Faculty ◽  
Historically Black Colleges ◽  
White Institutions ◽  
Black Colleges And Universities ◽  
Black Women Faculty

Although there is an abundance of scholarship about the challenges presented to Black women faculty at Predominantly White Institutions, the career advancement of Black women faculty at Historically Black Colleges and Universities has gone largely unnoticed. Considering Historically Black Colleges and Universities are where Black women faculty achieve tenure in the highest percentages, this study took a non-deficit perspective and investigated what supports are used by Black women faculty both internal to the institution and externally. The sites of this study were 43 HBCUs with 25% or more of tenured faculty comprised of Black women. Faculty rank and discipline were considered when comparing the survey data. Some supports include networks, family, religion, collaboration, and other strategies. This study provides a preliminary step in studying what supports Black women find most useful in navigating their faculty careers.

Examining Disparities in Food Access Between Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Non-Historically Black Colleges and Universities

2021 ◽  
pp. 089011712110244
Author(s):  
Mariah Kornbluh ◽  
Shirelle Hallum ◽  
Marilyn Wende ◽  
Joseph Ray ◽  
Zachary Herrnstadt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Historically Black ◽  
Food Access ◽  
The United States ◽  
Black Colleges ◽  
Colleges And Universities ◽  
Historically Black Colleges ◽  
Census Tracts ◽  
Neighborhood Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Black Colleges And Universities

Purpose: Examine if Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) are more likely to be located in low food access area (LFA) census tracts compared to public non-HBCUs. Design: ArcGIS Pro was utilized to capture food environments and census tract sociodemographic data. Setting: The sample included 98 HBCUs and 777 public non-HBCUs within the United States. 28.9% of study census tracts were classified as LFA tracts. Measures: University data were gathered from the National Center for Education Statistics. Census tract-level LFA classification was informed by the United States Department of Agriculture’s Food Access Research Atlas. Covariates included population density and neighborhood socioeconomic status of census tracts containing subject universities. Analysis: Multilevel logistic regression was employed to examine the relationship between university type and LFA classification. Results: A higher percentage of HBCUs (46.9%) than public non-HBCUs (26.6%) were located in LFAs. After adjusting for population density and neighborhood socioeconomic status, university type was significantly associated with food access classification (B=0.71;p=.0036). The odds of an HBCU being located in LFA tracts were 104% greater than for a public non-HBCU (OR=2.04;95% CI=1.26,3.29). Conclusion: Findings underscore the need for policy interventions tailored to HBCU students to promote food security, environmental justice, and public health.

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