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Description

In the current climate of increasing anti-Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies, the educational landscape for Black students, particularly in STEM fields, faces significant threats. This research, grounded in qualitative data from focus groups with 75 Black undergraduate STEM students provides insights into how Black students persist despite systemic barriers within STEM spaces. To analyze the experiences of Black undergraduate STEM students, we employed a latent, inductive thematic analysis to uncover systemic barriers embedded in their narratives. Grounded in a theoretical framework that centers Black epistemologies, Intersectionality, BlackCrit, and Afrocentric and Diasporic thinking, our work challenges reductive approaches to understanding Black student experiences. These frameworks affirm the value of Black ways of knowing and being, providing a foundation for addressing systemic inequities and fostering the imagination, ingenuity, and inspired inquiry needed in Black education spaces. Our findings reveal that Black students navigate oppressive policies by drawing strength from critical support networks, a sense of belonging, family, purpose, and faith. These factors serve as counter-narratives to deficit-oriented discourses, highlighting the resilience and agency of Black students in STEM. Using our theoretical framework, we interpret these findings to emphasize the importance of creating Black Education Spaces that affirm Black identities and provide the cultural, emotional, and intellectual support necessary for Black students to thrive. This study not only informs our understanding of Black STEM students’ persistence but also guides the development of strategies to support Black students in K-12 and beyond.

Publication Date

4-1-2025

Keywords

Black students, STEM education, Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) policies, systemic barriers, qualitative research, focus groups, Intersectionality, BlackCrit, Afrocentric thinking, support networks, sense of belonging, educational equity

Black EpiSTEMologies: Advancing Racial Equity for Black Students in STEM

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