Black Faculty Happiness: A Qualitative Ode to Black Faculty Voices, Success, and Retention at Predominantly White Research Universities

Abstract

The author shares counter narratives of eleven Black faculty members employed at predominantly white research universities in the United States focusing on their experiences with happiness within their academic role. The researcher builds the study advancing a more nuanced view of the Black faculty experience. Counter storytelling was specifically used to exhibit Black faculty members’ self-description of happiness while affording them an opportunity to highlight experiences which produced feelings of happiness. This narrative exploration serves as a clarion call to Black faculty to recognize, embrace, and foster components of their academic roles that yield happiness. The author offers university leadership suggestions for the retention of Black faculty and urges for a relentless striving for racially equitable environments.