A Broken Silence: Voices of African American Women in the Academy

(Hardback)

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Description

Ground-breaking for readers concerned with the dynamics of privilege, power, and inequality in contemporary America. This book addresses the interlocking systems of race and gender in institutions of higher education in America. The study is based on empirical data from African American women of various disciplines in faculty and administrative positions at traditionally white colleges and universities. It focuses primarily on narratives of the women in terms of how they are affected by racism, as well as sexism as they perform their duties in their academic environments. The findings suggest that a common thread exists relative to the experiences of the women. The book challenges and dispels the myth that Black progress has led to equality for African American women in the academy. The results of this study make it even more critical that the voices of African American women be heard and their experiences in the academy be expressed. This may be one way to inform academic and lay readers that racism and sexism are not dead.

Reviews

"At last, a book that provides insight into the varied and complex experiences of African American women who walk within the halls of white academia. A useful and important book for university administrators to use as a guide for the assessment and modification of "chilly" campus climates and for women of color who need to make sense of daily episodes of hostility, harassment and bias."-Dr. Shanette Harris Associate Professor, University of Rhode Island Licensed Psychologist
"Drawing on field interviews, a first-rate literature review, and her own experience, Professor Myers shows the many racist and sexist barriers that white academics, administrators, and students today throw in the paths of black women professors across the country."-Joe Feagin, Graduate research Professor University of Florida and former president of The American Sociological Association
"Enlightened administrators can use A Broken Silence to create policies and practices to end the isolation, sexism, and racism minority women endure, especially since the unique talents these women possess are crucial to serving the educational needs of tomorrow's college students."-Mary Dee Wenniger Editor and Publisher Women in Higher Education
"True to form, Dr. Myers has written a timely and extremely significant book on the dynamics of race, sex, white privilege and power, and inequalities, in the lives of African American women in higher education. In a narrative style that is uniquely her own, that is sometimes passionate and always engaging, Dr. Myers gives voices to these women."-BarBara M. Scott, PhD Author of Marriages and Families: Diversity and Change and Sociology: Making Sense of the Social World
.,."outlines the status of African American women in traditionally white institutions, recent changes in the status, struggles over power, the intersection of race and gender, the significance of voice, and coping mechanisms."-Reference & Research Book News
...outlines the status of African American women in traditionally white institutions, recent changes in the status, struggles over power, the intersection of race and gender, the significance of voice, and coping mechanisms.-Reference & Research Book News
Myers provides the groundwork for realizing African-American women's history on traditionally white college and university campuses, dispelling myths and relating their experiences.-Multicultural Review
"Myers provides the groundwork for realizing African-American women's history on traditionally white college and university campuses, dispelling myths and relating their experiences."-Multicultural Review
..."outlines the status of African American women in traditionally white institutions, recent changes in the status, struggles over power, the intersection of race and gender, the significance of voice, and coping mechanisms."-Reference & Research Book News

Author Bio

LENA WRIGHT MYERS is Professor of Sociology at Ohio University and the author of numerous scholarly contributions to sociology, race, ethnicity, class, and gender.