1. Black Women in the Academy
Navigating Social Position

2. Learning Objectives
Describe the unique position of Black women in the academy and Black Studies.
Understand how Black women professionals are marginalized in Black Studies
Consider the important and unique role that Black women play in academe as a whole and Black studies specifically.

3. The Missing Link
Black women have been integral to the development of Africana Studies
Their contributions have been pushed to the margins of scholarly discourse
Their experience is at the intersection of racism and sexism in the academy

4. Women in the Field Majority educated at HBCU
Have held administrative positions
Are between 30 and 65

5. Service Role
Are typically engaged in more teaching, advising, committee work than white counterparts
Are less likely to have graduate assistants
Are more likely to work overtime to conduct research and get published
Rarely have sponsorship and access to funding for research and international travel

6. Service Breakdown 37% teaching 35% researching 27% administration
15% advising

7. Black Tax
A debt incurred by virtue of being Black in a white institution
Black women have to deal with racism and sexism simultaneously
Professors are not removed from gender roles outside of the academy (i.e. the second shift)

8. 2005 Faculty Departure Trends
Minority respondents were more likely than whites to cite salary, the quality of life in Blacksburg, and the general climate in Virginia for diversity as reasons for leaving Virginia Tech
White faculty were more likely than minorities to cite state support for higher education
Specifically among minority groups, African Americans were more likely than other minorities to cite campus climate and general climate in Virginia
Other minorities were more likely than African Americans to cite lack of opportunities for their spouse/partner as a reason for leaving.

9. Virginia Tech Attrition of Minority Faculty
23.5% found a salary increase elsewhere
17.4% Left because of a spousal/family concern
15.7% Negative tenure prospect
14.8% multiple reasons
*21% of leave due to spousal/family concerns
2010 Faculty Departure trends
Consider faculty hemorrhaging at Virginia Tech Sociology department.
Needs more community support within and outside of Virginia tech.

10. Contribution Afrocentric worldview
Bridge between the academy and the community
Have been committed to promoting policy
Integral to the development of the discipline

11. Black Male Fragility Find the focus on women’s issues a threat
Have historically marginalized the perspectives of women colleagues
Research has historically been invalidated due to white and male perspective domination

12. Position Leadership is an expected male trait
Women leaders are not afforded with the same support as their male counterparts
Men often see women leaders as a threat

13. Black/Africana Women’s Studies
Black women’s studies should not be taught in isolation
Is necessary for the continued development of the field
Adds necessary nuance to Afrocentric perspectives