Successful Undergraduate African American Men's Navigation and Negotiation of Academic and Social Counter-Spaces as Adaptation to Racism at Historically White Institutions

Abstract

Extant research has extensively illuminated African American men's experiences with racism at historically White institutions. Their efforts to persist and graduate meant many of them learned to navigate and respond to racism on and off campus. Such learned behavior has necessitated adopting coping mechanisms to acculturate to the social, cultural, and academic environments within and surrounding institutions of higher education. Drawn from a larger study, this qualitative case study explored the experiences and the strategies used by two participants as they self-navigated the institution's support programs, affinity groups, and campus organizations to achieve personal and academic success. Academically persistent and successful African American men formed unique personal networks; sought out support; and received help from African American organizations, family members, faculty members, and staff members. This research advances a growing body of literature focusing on the success strategies of undergraduate African American men pursuing their educational goals at historically White institutions.