Supporting the Success of Students of Color: Creating Racial Justice through Student Activism
Year: 2016
Type: article
Abstract: Despite the increased numbers of students of color in higher education, racial stratification is deeply entrenched in the university system (Carnevale & Strohl, 2013), and it is within these racialized systems of inequality that students of color seek academic excellence. This paper describes three student activism initiatives at Bridgewater State University focused on racial justice, in response to the non-indictments of white police officers lethal brutality toward men of color in New York and Missouri, and in the face of pervasive systemic racism. During the 2014-2015 academic year, students, in collaboration with employees, organized a Black Lives Matter event, an Acting for Justice Troupe, and a state-wide summit focused on the success of male students of color. The paper outlines the relational nature of these student activism initiatives, how non-traditional mentoring relationships with employees support students, and the impact on the campus community as well as higher education institutions across the state.
Authors: Judith S. Willison, Laura Boutwell, Sabrina Gentlewarrior, Thomas Kling, Kate McLaren, Richardson Pierre-Louis, Colleen Rua, Marvin Ezhan, Jesse Barbosa, Gary Kar-Chuen Chow, Julian Millán Pérez, Brian Owusu, Jovan Taylor, Ye Chen, Ruby Lila De La Rosa, Danielle Marie Galstian, Frank Iaquinta, Michael Molyneaux, Tashima Point du jour, Jamaal Rodney-Bonnette, Marina Smoske, James Gouzias, Kasheida Hector
Language: English
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2562218558