Creating Community on the Margins: The Successful Black Female Academician

Urban Rev (2010) 42:394402

DOI 10.1007/s11256-009-0140-3

Dawn Hinton

Published online: 29 September 2009 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2009

Abstract The experiences of a Black Female academic, working at a Predominately White Institution (PWI), is explored in this work. The author suggests that Black women have been historically marginalized within most PWIs and historically this has been viewed in a negative light. Here it is suggested that Black women in academe view this position as one of power which can be used to propel them towards the goals of tenure and promotion. This work uses Black Feminist Theory to examine these experiences and to provide a proper context for analysis.

Keywords Black feminism Black female academic Marginalization

Empowerment

Introduction

This article is intended to capture the lived experiences of a Black female academic at a predominantly white institution. These experiences are viewed through the lens of Black Feminist thought. The testimonies represented here capture the unique position that many Black women are placed in within the academy. This work identies the marginalization felt and the negative consequences of this marginalization. In addition to the exploration of these negative consequences the author recognizes that there are also potential positive outcomes of marginalization. Finally, it is recommended that Black women academics embrace the margins by creating a community on the margins that allow for success. This research explores the following: How can Black women live on the margins in academe and remain successful? What parallel institutions do Black women in the academy create to

D. Hinton (&)

Department of Sociology, Saginaw Valley State University, 7400 Bay RoadEN 265, University Center, MI 48710, USAe-mail: [email protected]

Creating Community on the Margins: The Successful Black Female Academician

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support themselves? These matters are examined by presenting the lived experiences of the author.

It is Collins (2000) assertion that there is value in examining the experiences of Black women, which provides the theoretical lens that informs this research. There is also consensus among many Black feminist theorists that the voices and experiences of Black women are valuable and represent a legitimate source of data for consideration (Collins 2000; Takara 2006; Williams and Evans-Winters 2005; Willis and Lewis 1999). Collins (2000) refers to the knowledge created by Black...