SUNY, Critical Race Studies in Education

Historical and contemporary perspectives on the role of support networks in creating community and contributing to Black students' success in different postsecondary settings. Black Student Support Networks shows how Black undergraduate and graduate students use formal and informal support networks to create community at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and predominantly White institutions (PWIs). Contributors use a range of qualitative research methods, including autoethnography, personal narratives, and case studies, and theoretical frameworks, such as critical race theory and college choice, to illuminate the challenges and successes Black students encounter in their educational journeys. They advocate for culturally relevant pedagogy, emphasizing the importance of mentoring, faculty-student relationships, peer networks, spirituality, and programming in fully supporting Black students and fostering their safety, sense of belonging, and mental well-being. With a foreword by Ivory A. Toldson and afterword by Melanie Carter, the volume is essential reading for students, faculty, administrators, researchers, and policymakers dedicated to promoting the retention and graduation of Black students, especially in the post-Affirmative Action era.

This much-needed volume brings together academics, practitioners, students, and community members of Color to thoroughly reframe college access and choice in research and practice. Enrollment rates continue to differ substantially by race and ethnicity. While Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color remain inequitably stratified in the pursuit of higher education, many models of college choice are simply insufficient for understanding the college-going processes of diverse students. Continually centering BIPOC knowledge, assets, and needs, contributors provide a series of varied yet connected frameworks grounded in culturally sustaining, community-oriented research. Like the educational journeys it represents, the volume is a communal activity that invites participation. Each chapter concludes with a series of critical reflection questions to guide readers in deeper learning and engagement.