“Mama Told Me...”: Exploring Childhood Lessons That Laid a Foundation for My “Endarkened” Epistemology

Abstract

The author explores the verbal and nonverbal communication practices that she used as a scholar of color conducting race-related research for her dissertation, which addressed professor credibility. Many scholars of color have argued that their research is conducted from standpoints that acknowledge their senses of “self” and cultures of origin. This essay illustrates how five childhood lessons influenced the author’s worldview and, ultimately, her approach to research as a Black scholar operating within a predominantly White academic environment.