This article describes factors affecting the life-span achievement of IS highly accomplished African American women from a national retrospective study of gifted women from diverse ethnic backgrounds. Participants were nominated as gifted by national professional organizations in their respective fields. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews of the women and telephone questionnaires administered to “parent” informants. Participants perceived that civil-rights and affirmative-action policies opened doors if they were already qualified. Interpreted within a cultural-ecological framework, findings suggested that cultural strengths plus their high ability enabled simultaneous acknowledgment of the effects of racism, sexism, and other hardships and application of positive coping strategies that are derived from these strengths.
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