In the book Menah Pratt tells her story with raw emotion, sharing pages from her diaries, poetry, handwritten letters, and photographs from her past. It feels as though you are a part of her life as she is beautifully vulnerable. I was struck by the story of her mother and father, as her own story doesn’t manifest without them. Her father, Theodore, was a nuclear physicist and immigrated from Sierra Leone to the U.S. He married her mother, Mildred, who was a professor of social work and the granddaughter of an enslaved woman from Alabama. Both of her parents earned doctoral degrees and believed education was vital. Her connection to her parents and how they followed her through the valleys and peaks of her life is riveting throughout the book. She expresses complicated relationships with each of them, being both drawn to them and wanting to run at times.
Blackwildgirl begins her life as a queen superpower. When she is still a child, however, her parents strike a bargain that leads to her dethronement - and sets her on a forty-five-year journey to become the warrior she was born to be: Blackwildgoddess. Join an interactive adventure exploring the private life and journals of a young Black girl, beginning at the age of eight, as she struggles and evolves from a tennis player, musician, and college student to become a wife, mother, lawyer, scholar, and writer. Documenting revelations and reflections during her twelve-stage initiation journey in America and the African…
Reading Smart University is somewhat scary as Weinberg’s arguments are based on extensive historical and current evidence. She warns about many of the day-to-day things we take for granted -- our phones, our computer programs, our use of AI in our "smart" homes, and the tools we as faculty use to teach. She urges us to ask important questions like: Are we trading our privacy for convenience? What are the consequences of colleges and universities’ access to student data? And what are colleges and universities doing to protect students’ interests? I was skeptical about this book initially as it's not something I normally read. However, it was very well written and the examples are excellent and engaging.
How surveillance perpetuates long-standing injustices woven into the fabric of higher education.
Higher education increasingly relies on digital surveillance in the United States. Administrators, consulting firms, and education technology vendors are celebrating digital tools as a means of ushering in the age of "smart universities." By digitally monitoring and managing campus life, institutions can supposedly run their services more efficiently, strengthen the quality of higher education, and better prepare students for future roles in the digital economy. Yet in practice, these initiatives often perpetuate austerity, structural racism, and privatization at public universities under the guise of solving higher education's most…
In Black Woman on Board, Nicol focuses on the life and legacy of Claudia Hampton, an African American woman on the California State University board of trustees. It was a lonely place to be in 1974. What I liked most about the book is how Nicol discussed the various forms of activism -- even quiet activism. Often, we see activism in limited ways, and Black Woman on Board shows its many dimensions and multi-faceted nature. Nicol's writing is inspirational, especially in a world where women are under attack. The book is also about quietly making lasting changes by working day after day with focus. Sometimes we give up, and Claudia Hampton's story is about resilience and persistence in accomplishing a goal. It is beautifully inspiring.
Offers a rare view inside the university boardroom, uncovering the vital role Black women educational leaders have played in ensuring access and equity for all.
Black Woman on Board: Claudia Hampton, the California State University, and the Fight to Save Affirmative Action examines the leadership strategies that Black women educators have employed as influential power brokers in predominantly white colleges and universities in the United States. Author Donna J. Nicol tells the extraordinary story of Dr. Claudia H. Hampton, the California State University (CSU) system's first Black woman trustee, who later became the board's first woman chair, and her twenty-year…
Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) are pivotal in promoting social and economic mobility for African Americans and mentoring the next generation of Black leaders. Through inspiring personal stories and extensive research, Gasman and Esters showcase how HBCUs have mentored generations of leaders and scholars, fostering a collaborative culture of success and empowerment. These schools shape and propel Black students into leadership and intellectual roles where they have a major impact on medicine, literature, law, higher education, art, sports, and business. HBCUs also profoundly impact local communities and economic development that extends far beyond the classroom. This book sheds light on the unique cultures and identities nurtured within HBCUs while emphasizing the importance of philanthropic support and alumni engagement in maintaining these important institutions. Despite their positive contributions to society, HBCUs face specific challenges like securing adequate funding and support, small endowments, and accreditation. Gasman and Esters sound a compelling call to action and outline practical steps for sustaining HBCUs' invaluable legacy.
