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Sense of belonging is recognized as a factor contributing to persistence to graduation. Furthermore, interactional diversity is associated with learning and civic outcomes-touted higher education goals. Hip-hop culture, one of the most influential cultural creations of the mid-20th century, has succeeded in attracting devotees from diverse backgrounds. However, very little higher education research exists on the role of hip-hop culture in higher education institutions. As colleges seek ways to promote diversity and respond to diverse student experiences, members of hip-hop enclaves may provide insight into how to facilitate sense of belonging and interactional diversity.
The face of the United States is changing. Trends in immigration and birthrates indicate that in the very near future, no one group will represent the majority (Passel & Cohn, 2008). The implications for higher education are twofold. First, given that college functions as the primary conduit for professional development, it is imperative that it represents the diversity of the country in order to forestall shortages in critical professions and to ensure the maintenance of social welfare programs (Crouch & Zakariya, 2012). Second, college is a significant purveyor of knowledge, values, and ethics (Checkoway, 2001) that guide the social and political direction of the nation. Thus, college provides an optimal opportunity to educate the populace about diversity in order to nurture a culturally sophisticated workforce and citizenry equipped to thoughtfully address myriad social concerns (Bollinger, 2007).
Given the significance of higher education in the national and global economy, college student experiences are a major concern for researchers and political leaders (Bowen, Chingos, & McPherson, 2009). Ultimately, the concern is about college matriculation and completion rates, particularly among underrepresented groups (Nagaoka, Roderick, & Coca, 2009). Among the conceptual approaches to address college access and completion concerns, cultural explanations are the most compelling because they allow for the consideration of campus diversity and sense of belonging (or perceptions of campus experiences). Equally important, cultural frameworks facilitate exploration into how subcultures, as diversity constructs, function within the larger cultural milieu. Hence, this paper explores the relationship between hip-hop, as a college subculture, diversity and sense of belonging.
College DiVerSiTy, CulTure anD SenSe of Belonging
A plethora of higher education literature demonstrates the benefits of interacting with diverse others such as advancing student retention...