Abstract
The purpose of this chapter is to explore the perceptions and experiences of Black female diversity practitioners during the dual pandemics of COVID-19 and the racial reckoning of 2020. Using portraiture as a methodology and Black feminist thought (BFT) as a framework, this chapter gives voice to two Black women who worked at Ivy League institutions as diversity practitioners from March 2020 through June 2021. This chapter places the portraits of Black female diversity practitioners at Ivy League institutions within the larger discourse about the impact that the dual pandemics of COVID-19 and the racial reckoning of 2020 had on higher education administrators.
TopReflections On The Double Pandemic
I have a duty to speak the truth as I see it and share not just my triumphs, not just the things that felt good, but the pain, the intense, often unmitigated pain. It is important to share how I know survival is survival and not just a walk through the rain. ―Audre Lorde, The Master’s Tools Will Never Dismantle the Master’s House
Key Terms in this Chapter
Black Women: Women who self-identify as has having a heritage within the African diaspora.
Spirituality: A belief or connection to a higher power or something beyond oneself.
Self-Care: Doing things to take care of the mind, body, and spirit—activities that support a healthy lifestyle.
Liberation: To be free from physical, psychological, and emotional encumbrances.
Authenticity: The ability to be true to oneself.
Faith: Trust or confidence in a higher being.
Resilience: The ability to overcome, bounce back, and recover.