Black Students’ Suggestions for an “Inclusive” and “Excellent” University: An Examination of an Historically and Predominantly White Institutions in Southeast Georgia

Abstract

This study addresses a critical barrier to the academic advancement and graduation of Black students–the presence of a hostile racial climate. While Historically and Predominantly White Institutions (HPWIs) may profess a commitment to diversity, a closer examination of their culture, climate, practices, and policies reveals the persistence of racialized structures that disproportionately advantage white individuals. This research provides strategies employed by Black students at a HPWI of higher education to achieve academic success and enhance their overall college experience. Through 44 in-depth one-on-one interviews, students share the tools they have harnessed to navigate these challenges. Central to these students’ success included active participation in Black student organizations, where they not only resist the effects of a hostile climate but also foster academic and social achievements. Through leveraging their agency to articulate their experiences and engaging with Black student organizations as counterspaces, Black students adeptly navigate the complex environment of HPWIs.