Microaggressions

Although the article has good points, the article did not mention solutions for the struggles, challenges, and dilemmas of African American students on campus and the future trajectory for African American studies. I know that it is very difficult to predict what changes will be in the future for the trajectory of the African American Studies program. However, the article did bring insight for other researchers as an “opportunity to cultivate solidarity and sharpen and update its analysis of racism in the United States” (p 235).

HBCUs were originally created to educate and uplift African Americans to the same levels of success and their other racial counterparts. The institutions were created to afford all African-American students, the same chance and opportunities to reach academic and social success. They were created in times within history, when African Americans could not enroll in traditionally “white” post-secondary institutions. Currently, there are 105 diverse HBCUs (insert source for information). Each institution has distinct missions and rich legacies. They vary in size, enrollment, financial creditability and stability, curriculum and degree programming as well as, operational effectiveness (Hibel, n.d.). HBCUs serve some students who would not normally be accepted into other institutions because of their academic and socio-economic status.

HBCUs are more sensitive to the various cultures and encourage students to associate and learn about the different nationalities and cultures. HBCUs faculty and administration tends to offer more encouragement and support for students having difficulty; they help these students to reach their full academic potential. “In 1992, Walter Allen reported that black students who attend HBCUs have better academic performance, greater social involvement, and higher occupational aspirations than black students who attend PWIs. On black campuses students emphasize feelings of engagement, extensive support, acceptance, encouragement, and connection. Allen also found that HBCUs communicate to black students that it is safe to take the risks associated with intellectual growth and

While L, Patton; B, Bridges; L, Flowers’s 2011 article EFFECTS OF GREEK AFFILIATION ON AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDENTS' ENGAGEMENT, discusses that African American organizations presence on campus. Have exposed great leadership, entrepreneurship, encouraged academic achievement and promoted community service. The organizations, believe that if their

Microaggressions manifest in many ways such as, “You’re lucky that you're black”, “Don’t you wish you were white”, and “What are you”. These comments can be very insulting to a person. “Don’t you wish you were white” can be very insulting to an African American or Hispanic person. In other words, this example illustrates that the colored person is viewed down upon since they are not white. An African American is viewed down because they were slaves and since they are not white, whites are seen as rich and powerful. Sometimes a simple insult like, “You’re smart,” can offend a person without you knowing it. When someone says, “You’re smart,” people can start questioning themselves about their abilities and intelligence, but there is a way to respond.

This paper serves as a personal reflection of the implication of racial microaggressions in daily life. Three journal articles and a book chapter are explored in an effort to obtain a greater understanding of the effects of racial microaggressions experienced by people of color and to bring light to how often racial microaggressions are committed by White Americans without notice or accompanied by attempts to explain away the offenses. The sources used provide examples of obvious acts of discrimination as well as subtle microaggressions which are often unconsciously or naively perpetrated and go on to offer recommendations for professional counselors in order to both provide a framework for helping clients of color to cope with encounters of microaggressions and highlight the need of awareness of possible racial microaggressions present during counselor-client interactions which may result in negative impacts on the therapeutic process. Racial microaggressions are broken down into subcategories of microassaults, microinsults, and microinvalidations, providing a deeper explanation of my own experiences with such discriminatory actions. This ultimately leads to a decision of continuation of training with a necessary focus on increasing mindfulness and field experiences in respect to the subject of racial microaggressive behaviors and attitudes.

Young black Americans that attend or plan to attend a historically black college or university tend to fell a sense of empowerment and community ambiance with these types of schools. Some of the classes offered and the extracurricular activities that speak directly to the African-American culture may only be available at HBCUs or may provide the most benefits at a historically black college or university.

The lack of engagement of Black alumni at PWIs may be caused by the campus environment that Black alumni experienced while attending as students. Prior research has shown that alumni who have had positive undergraduate experiences and strong feelings about their alma mater are more likely to donate and/ or participate in alumni events. Gaier (2005) notes that students have a higher rate of satisfaction when cultivating positive relationships with faculty and are more inclined to give back to their institution in the form of time and donations as alumni. Clotfelter (2003) conducted a study that shows that alumni satisfaction is linked to the particular types of experiences that alumni had while on campus as students.

“Students who successfully adapt, establish social relationships with Whites, adjust to Black-White cultural differences, and cope with college

This study was only a snapshot of how African American males felt about their experiences at Morehead State University. There is a need on campus to find ways of helping African American males connect with others. Whether it be in the classroom or outside the classroom. If I were to continue this study, one area I would think would be interesting is to examine the results of students who lived on campus, and those who were solely online students. The online learners would likely give a different perspective on the social viewpoints of college.

"Race-related reasons are important variables in college choice that have gone largely unexplored. Black undergraduate students attending an HBCU completed a questionnaire assessing their reasons for choosing to attend the university. Students also indicated by choosing an HBCU for reasons other than race,

Being an African American student in a college that is predominantly Caucasian can be a little intimidating. First, you are constantly busy with activities such as coursework, socializing with newly encountered students, and determining the most advantageous mode of communication with professors. While these activities consume considerable time, one must still contemplate extra-curricular activities that will optimize their academic declared field of study specifically; seeking and obtaining a professional internship at a prestigious organization or within a respectable cooperative education program. All these different actions require concentration; therefore, it is beneficial to be in a college that supports career planning and offers a diverse

These universities likewise have a great graduation rate in numerous remarkable fields securing the future achievement of these graduates. These foundations establish qualities and ethics into each one of their people, show them how to be effective, upstanding subjects, and transform them into remarkable good examples. Historical black universities and colleges help their people exceed expectations in their picked professions. These organizations were initially settled to allow African Americans to get further instruction and now it allows them to end up successful in the public eye too grasp their way of life and history. Keeping blacks on the road to improving their inner selves, HBCUS are Still critical. Black universities and colleges will dependably be important because they support the training, self-regard, and achievement of African Americans everywhere throughout the

Another time I experienced microaggression was when a teacher keep making racial jokes in class. I remember the teacher said something like “does anyone want to hear a very good joke? There was a Muslim, a black and an Indian. The Muslim said… the black said…and the Indian said…” He would expect us to laugh at the joke. This would make me, as well as many students feel uncomfortable. We did not like that the teacher was making such jokes that degrade people’s

Students of color have their experiences at school belittled. “When students look to counseling, they are often told their racialized experiences are in their head -- that the college or university is color blind.” Dr. Ebony McGee, assistant professor of diversity and urban schooling at Vanderbilt's Peabody College of Education and Human Development