A Repository of Hope for Social Justice: Black Women Leaders at Historically Black Colleges and Universities, 10(20)

Abstract

The 1954 ruling of Brown v. Board of Education by the U.S. Supreme Court impacted the social lives of African Americans. The primary purpose of this research was to examine the experiences and struggles for social justice in education and educational institutions as viewed from the context of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCU) in one southeastern state. A corollary purpose was to document and catalogue how four Black female leaders at HBCUs committed to social justice and racial uplift, connect their professional work with social and political activism in the quest for access, equality, and social justice for all. HBCUS are defined as Black academic institutions that were established prior to 1964 whose mission was and continues to be to educate African Americans (Garilbaldi, 1984). Through the use of narrative inquiry the personal and professional experiences of four African American women leaders at HBCUs were highlighted. The key findings exemplify how these female leaders survived the struggles of integration, triumphed over barriers in educational settings, and are committed to advocating for social justice in their roles as transformative leaders at HBCUs.