I wasn't necessarily in love with my major department at my undergraduate institution, though I had some fairly decent professors. Then came the semester I took Blacks in Film as an elective. I then took African American Studies, and then a summer semester Harlem Renaissance course at a local community college. Each of those professors brought a combination of passion and academic rigor to the courses that I honestly had not seen in many of my other my classes. What was different? Aside from one high school teacher, this was the first time that I was gifted academic knowledge by someone who reflected my cultural background and experience.
This view probably mirrors many other former and current Black learners, even with caring white teachers. However, a YourBlackWorld.com study reports that 42% of all African Americans at predominantly white campuses never had a single black professor during four years of college. Seventy-four percent of the same students only had one black professor in a field outside of African American studies. On a subconscious level, this was in part why chose a career in academia, why I became a Blackademic.
These results indicate a phenomenon far beyond not having enough black faculty on campuses across the US. It means that there are too few examples for black students to model themselves after and that many don't see the option. Dr. John Barker, Assistant Provost for Undergraduate Education at the University of Miami gives a prime example. When he speaks to new groups of mostly minority students, he has them do a visualization exercise, in which students picture a faculty member and then give a description. "Nine out of 10 picture one who is white," says Barker.
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