Reflections and Actions for Colleagues of African American Women in the Academy

Introduction

I am an African American woman. As a child, my parents took me to see/hear what would become the final speech of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. This defining moment helped to shape my life’s work in education. I have served three PK-12 schools and five colleges/universities. I have been a part of two majority White institutions, one historically Black college/university, one art college, and one college for women, abroad.

I have benefited from colleagues and administrators who mentored me, sponsored me, and collaborated with me. Conversely, there were colleagues who told me that my selection was only because the university needed Black faculty (i.e., I was an Affirmative Action hire). Others made me aware that I had little to no chance of securing tenure. Someone even expressed their astonishment that my tenure and promotion dossier was noteworthy.

All the same, I love the causes of higher education to exchange knowledge, advance the frontiers of society, and serve as the conscious of society (Webster, 2010). For these reasons, I wanted to be a part of this enterprise. Therefore, I studied the academy’s history with Black women. While I noticed the scarcity of African American women, I also observed the capacity and care African American women have for higher education. As an example, Mary Frances Berry has contributed to the academy as a professor, interim provost, chancellor, and as a named distinguished professor (Berry, n.d.). Ruth Simmons has served as an assistant professor, assistant dean, acting director, visiting associate professor, assistant dean, associate dean, assistant dean and associate dean again, provost, vice provost, and finally college president (Bartlett, 2010). Beverly Daniel Tatum began her work in the academy as a lecturer in Black Studies (The History Makers, 2022). She later became a professor of psychology, department chair, dean, vice president for student affairs, acting president, and finally president. Neither trajectory was a straight line nor at the same institution. Each woman also yielded prominent levels of service. Their service included a presidential appointment, Goldman Sachs Board of Directors, and Board of the Association of American Colleges and Universities, respectively.

I gained inspiration and insight from their successes and struggles. I have had rich opportunities to lead initiatives, units, offices, departmental committees, college committees, and university committees. I have had the immense joy of serving other African American women as thesis advisor, dissertation committee member, role model, mentor, sponsor, and coach. Although I am far from perfect, I promote human flourishing in ways that alleviate human suffering. I continue to believe in education today; education tomorrow; and education for everyone.

At the time of this writing, I have attained tenure; I have received promotions both as a faculty member and as an administrator. I even serve on the President’s Cabinet. Accordingly, you may be wondering about the validity of my voice to speak about the plight of African American women in the academy. My authority to speak remains assured because I have similar lived experiences to the women I report here. More importantly, the information I present here demonstrates that the success of African American women in the academy remains limited, paved with unnecessary distractions, and begs further examination.