<p> Many Black boys become detached from their classrooms and disengaged from the learning process altogether. Irrelevant curriculum, systemic discriminatory K-12 experiences, and poorly staffed and resourced schools are among the various historical, educational, and socio-economic factors that contribute to the 31% drop out rate among Black students, particularly males. Those who drop out of school often experience unemployment, economic struggle, and in many cases, incarceration. In an effort to explore engaging instructional approaches that address the cultural needs of Black boys, a qualitative case study was conducted to explore the cultural responsiveness of Linked Learning. An emphasis was placed on identifying specific instructional strategies that impact the engagement levels and overall academic performance of Black boys. </p><p> A combination of interview, observational and documented data were collected with participants consisting of 10 Black, male high school students, 3 Linked Learning teachers, and 2 administrators. The following themes resulting from the data were evident within participants&rsquo; interview responses, observed behaviors and practices, and analyzed lesson plans and student work samples: (a) Caringclassrooms were critical to the success of Black boys, and (b) The Linked Learning promise positively impacted the academic experience of Black boys. An integration of two theoretical frameworks, Invitational Theory and Culturally Relevant Pedagogy, served as this study&rsquo;s conceptual frameworkand guided the exploration of the Linked Learningmodel.</p><p>

<p> After the largest one-time release of federal prisoners in October 2015, community colleges were charged with retooling and preparing individuals for careers. Community colleges were designed to provide individuals an entryway into higher education. Formerly incarcerated Black males seek community colleges to assist in transitioning into their communities, society, and family life. Community colleges are a good place to provide these transitional and academic resources. </p><p> This qualitative study explored the shared experiences of 16 formerly incarcerated Black male students attending 3 California community colleges. The study provided a better understanding of their background, experience while in college, and their desire to complete college. Utilizing the Strayhorn and Johnson&rsquo;s Community College Satisfaction Model as the conceptual framework, this dissertation study examined their (a) background traits <i> At Entry</i> of college, (b) Student engagement <i>Within</i> the college, and (c) overall satisfaction with the <i>Outcomes</i> of college. </p><p> The study used a phenomenological approach through qualitative interviews to capture the resources needed for formerly incarcerated Black male students who attended college in urban South Los Angeles, California. The interview questions were aligned with the research question, sub-questions and conceptual framework. Findings revealed 7 themes: Social Environment, Prison Industrial Complex, Perceptions of Education, Campus life, Aspirations, Activating Student Support, and Mentoring. Drawing from Yosso&rsquo;s Community Cultural Wealth, the study revealed participants had aspirations and used their social capital. </p><p> Findings indicate that they experienced some type of trauma and that faculty and student support services staff were key support in their community college experience. Further their experiences in prison affected their community college experience in these ways: hindered their social adaptation and maturation, prevented them from obtaining life skills, and blocked their educational attainment and continued stereotypes and stigmas. Programs like Umoja, Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS), Disabled Student Programs and Services (DSPS) and Formerly Incarcerated Student clubs were instrumental to student persistence. </p><p>

<p> According to former President Obama&rsquo;s Council on Advisors of Science and Technology (PCAST) analysis on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) graduation rates, the study concluded that United States will require an increase in STEM graduation rates by 40% to keep up with future job demands. The PCAST findings and National Center for Educational Statistics indicated that Black females are underrepresented in attaining advanced STEM degrees. To achieve increased advanced STEM degree rates, it is necessary to increase graduation rates for underrepresented Black to meet the growing demand for jobs requiring advanced STEM degrees. This narrative inquiry study explores the experiences of seven Black females who attained their advanced STEM degree, as they recalled the people and events that positively influenced their successful completion. </p><p> Utilizing Swail, Redd, and Perna&rsquo;s Geometric Model of Student Persistence and Achievement as the study theoretical framework, the study findings revealed the cognitive, social, and institutional factors that influenced advanced STEM degree attainment for the study participants. Additionally, the study revealed the influences outside of the Geometric Model that impacted their degree success. This study delved into the participants&rsquo; kindergarten through graduate school experiences to provide recommendations to improve advanced STEM degree completion rates for Black females. The study concludes with implications for future study so that researchers can add to the dearth of literature that exists on this topic and contribute to closing the gap on underrepresented resources needed for current high technology job demands.</p><p>

<p> Through employing critical narratives, this qualitative study examined the experiences of Black women who utilized their scholarship and activism to address campus climates at a predominantly Chicanx Latinx institution in Southern California. Six Black women&mdash;two faculty, two staff, and two students&mdash;participated in the study. All participants were active with Ethnic Studies (Pan-African Studies), the campus Cross Cultural Centers, and Black Student Union student organization in some capacity. Literature on the three areas focuses on the history of and ongoing struggle to exist, significance to campus life, and meaning in the lives of marginalized and minoritized communities. The study used three frameworks: Critical Pedagogy, Critical Race Theory, and Black Feminist and Black Womanist Theory to analyze the critical narratives of the women. Findings revealed Black women integrate community issues into their professional and personal lives, experience rare moments of being celebrated, and must contend with intentional efforts to silence their voices and activism. This study, informed by the Ethnic Studies politics of higher education, contributes to this field by identifying how Black women activists contribute to the moral and ethical leadership of campus climate conversations.</p><p>

<p> Prejudice is a pervasive concept that has been used at different times to hold those who are different from us at bay. In American culture, it has been revisited time after time as each new wave of immigrants arrives on American soil. For the African-American however, it has been a concept and social construct that continues to plague the culture and community. The goal and purpose of this study was to investigate the assumed biases observed by African-American officers when they encounter African-American civilians. While this phenomenon may impact both female and male officers from all racial backgrounds, for the purpose of this research the focus was on the impact it has on African-American male officers. This study aspired to explore the psychological, and sociological theories that influence the behaviors of these officers during these encounters. The research question examined whether, African-American officers demonstrate a racial bias, when policing their own culture? The study asked if exposure to media priming, acceptance of stereotypes, and a desire to assimilate into a predominantly Caucasian agency results in intra-racial prejudice and discrimination on behalf of the African-American officers. Through a qualitative approach known as the Enhanced Critical Incident Technique, this research investigated how African-American officers&rsquo; perceived their experience of policing the African-American community. It also examined their experience of having served within a police force that is predominantly Caucasians. A snowball technique was employed to obtain a subject pool of twelve retired African-American officers from across the country. Interviews were conducted, transcribed, coded, and categorized to develop themes that captured similarities in the thought process of these retired officers. It was posited that exposure to media stereotypes of African-Americans and their community and a desire to assimilate to the department would result in aggression towards African-American civilians. Findings of the study revealed these seven themes: Media, &ldquo;The Blue Wall&rdquo;, &ldquo;We All Bleed Blue&rdquo;, Comfort with a Caucasian Partner and Loyalty, Black Lives Matter, Mistreatment of African-Americans, and Strained Relations in the Community. What emerged from these themes was the acknowledgement that these are influencing factors in the everyday life of the African-American officer. Participants also reported observing the phenomenon of intra-racial prejudice within the law enforcement. Lastly findings of this study suggest the need for further in-depth research. </p><p>

<p> Schools of social work are facing a challenge of a lack of social workers with a doctorate to fill faculty positions expected to open due to faculty retiring. There is also a need for more ethnic diversity among social work faculty and schools are struggling to recruit and retain more faculty. This qualitative study used phenomenological methods to explore the factors that 20 Black women attribute to earning their doctorate degree in social work. It used Tinto&rsquo;s theory of graduate persistence, critical race theory, and Black feminist thought to contextualize the findings.</p><p> All of the participants were first generational doctoral students. Two factors motivated them to earn their doctorates (1) influence of family, friends and mentors and (2) their desire to help others. Findings also revealed that participants encountered a number of internal and external obstacles during their studies. While these obstacles delayed many of the women, they did not stop them. The women perceived these obstacles to be connected to their race, gender, and class. All of the women prevailed against the obstacles they encountered utilizing internal supports such as their faith and determination. They also relied on external supports from those with whom they had interpersonal relationships, including family, friends, and their institutions. These findings suggest that having support from their institution and encouragement from their family and friends served as a protective factor to the obstacles they encountered. These findings also outline the dichotomy of finances in this study. Overall 90% of participants received some type of funding for their, however all of accumulated financial debt in pursuit of their doctorate. Based on the findings of this study the following suggestions are made for schools of social work. A) Address issues of institutional racism by providing mentorship training courses for faculty. B) Conduct research to test the effectiveness of recommendations outlined in this study. C) Provide more training and resources to prepare Black women who aspire to pursue their Ph.D. in social work.</p><p>

<p> The Civil Rights Act was enacted more than 5 decades ago, and its provisions forbade discrimination on the basis of race in hiring, promoting, and firing. Yet some researchers argue that racial discrimination issues are still prevalent in the United States. They contend that modern racial discrimination is more covert and takes the form of racial microaggressions, which are subtle conscious or unconscious insults and derogatory attitudes directed towards minorities. Researchers have not fully addressed the prevalence of racial microaggressions in U.S. workplaces, however. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of naturalized African-Americans regarding racial microaggressions in U.S. federal agencies. The research problem was examined through the lens of critical race theory. Ten participants from the Social Security Administration were selected using snowball sampling. Data were collected through semi structured phone interviews and then examined using thematic content analysis to identity key concepts and develop a coding structure, from which 9 themes emerged. Findings revealed that participants experienced racial microaggressions in the form of bias, prejudice, false assumptions, nepotism, favoritism, and unfair denial of opportunities for promotion and professional development while at work, which affected their morale and productivity. This study may contribute to positive social change by helping leaders of U.S. federal agencies to understand their multicultural and diverse workforce and work environment. U.S. government officials could also use this study as a basis for policy decisions that may improve racial relations in U.S. federal agencies.</p><p>

<p> The study explored the gendered racial identity status of Black female student-affairs professionals and how their identity status influences both their personal and professional experiences at predominately White institutions. The existing scholarly literature has focused on females in higher education in general; very few studies have focused on issues specifically the intersectionality of gender and race regarding Black female student-affairs professionals at predominantly White institutions. The research question that explored this phenomenon was: what is the experience as a Black female working as a student-affairs professional in a predominately White institution? A generic qualitative approach was used to provide an understanding of the experience of these women. The study included eight Black female professionals working in the division of student affairs at an upper Midwest accredited four-year institution in higher education. The data revealed experiences of being stereotyped, devalued, silenced, ignored, and undermined while navigating their professional world as a double minority. This study also highlighted how these Black women&rsquo;s racial pride, sense of self, love and support from their families and their commitment to the students they served contributed to their success as professionals. </p><p>

<p> The lack of cultural specificity in sexuality education conjunct with a myriad of other social factors influences the disproportional impact of HIV on Black/African American adolescent females. Using a focus group methodology with 17 Black/ African American female middle and high school students, I harmonized the intersectionalities between the fields of Afrocentric rites of passage, public health education, and educational leadership toward providing insights and design of culturally conscious healthy sexuality instructional strategies and communal leadership.</p><p> The three aims of this exploratory study included: (a) ascertaining the perceived need for, and interest in, the co-creation of Bititi&rsquo;s Harvest&reg;, a gender and culturally specific, age-appropriate intervention using an Afrocentric rites of passage framework augmented with factual information on sexuality and healthier sexual practices, (b) examining participants&rsquo; current levels of knowledge and specific awareness of age, gender, and ethnic HIV risk, and (c) evaluating developments in my leadership praxis and pedagogy. </p><p> The key findings of this study included: participants&rsquo; indications of lacking fidelity in current educational systems&rsquo; strategies of culturally-specific education including comprehensive healthier sexuality education, differences between perceived and actual HIV knowledge accuracy), confidence in protective self-sufficiency, comfort speaking with peers and partners about HIV, participants&rsquo; recommendations to create curriculum that is inclusive and empowering, and participant interest in co-constructing said curriculum.</p><p> Finally, following an examination of my own leadership developments, I discuss how the findings and their practical application make an original, theoretically-relevant contribution to the literary body, including insights into culturally-specific programming, use of empowerment with metropolitan adolescent Black females 13-21 years, gender-specific use of Afrocentric theory, and rites of passage concept and practice, along with youth-centric and gender-specific input regarding HIV transmission among members of the African diaspora. I conclude with implications and recommendations for the three professional fields.</p><p>

<p> <i>Skin tone bias or colorism</i> is &ldquo;the tendency to perceive or behave toward members of a racial category based on the lightness or darkness of their skin tone&rdquo; (Maddox &amp; Gray, 2002, p. 250). It is &ldquo;the prejudicial treatment of individuals falling within the same racial group on the basis of skin color&rdquo; (Thompson &amp; Keith, 2004, p. 46) and &ldquo;the allocation of privilege and disadvantage according to the lightness or darkness of one&rsquo;s skin&rdquo; (Burke &amp; Embrick, 2008, p. 17). Skin tone bias/colorism is a form of discrimination based on skin tone that typically privileges lighter-skinned individuals and penalizes darker-skinned individuals within and across racial and ethnic groups (Hunter, 2007; Jones, 2000). For my study, I focused my investigation of skin tone bias/colorism in relation to Blacks in the United States of America. </p><p> I conducted semi-structured face-to-face individual interviews with 30 Black undergraduate students (15 men and 15 women) at the University of Pennsylvania using purposive sampling. To triangulate data for this study, participants&rsquo; skin color was determined by two self-report assessments: the Skin Color Satisfaction Scale (SCSS) (Bond &amp; Cash, 1992; Falconer &amp; Neville, 2000) and the Skin Color Assessment Procedure (SCAP) (Bond &amp; Cash, 1992; Coard, Breland, &amp; Raskin, 2001). These assessments were administered prior to the interview. </p><p> Contrary to societal myth, Blacks are not a monolithic group. The impetus for my dissertation was to develop a qualitative study that necessitates the acknowledgment of the heterogeneity of Black students&rsquo; backgrounds and experiences with college, to ultimately shed light on the potential challenges faced by varying Black students in college based on skin tone, and to provide recommendations for Black students to effectively navigate highly selective institutions of higher education &ndash; with hopes to increase their persistence and success in college. Recommendations for higher education institutions, faculty, and student affairs administrators to better support Black students are also provided. </p><p> My research questions were as follows: How do the academic, personal, and social experiences of lighter-skinned Black students at a highly selective higher education institution vary compared with the experiences of darker-skinned Black students? How does this variation in experiences between lighter and darker-skinned Black students matter within the higher education context? </p><p>