| The purpose of this qualitative study was to chronicle the life processes by which the selected African American women in higher education in the state of Minnesota have grown professionally and personally. The research questions for this study sought to understand how African American women in higher education positions, at predominantly Caucasian institutions, in a predominantly Caucasian state, persisted professionally and personally. This examination of their experiences was based on their personal understanding of the impact of race, gender, and economic status had on their experiences.;To investigate this phenomenon, the research questions of this study were as follows: (1) Are there general experiences shared by African American women in higher education in the state of Minnesota? (2) Are there significant life experiences that moved African American women into positions in higher education in the state of Minnesota? (3) Can African American women pinpoint experiences that would assist other women of color considering positions in higher education in the state of Minnesota? (4) Should African American women in higher education in the state of Minnesota care about the success of the next generation of African American women?;The conceptual framework implemented in this study was Black feminist critical theory and its resulting standpoint epistemology provided the framework for this study. The works of renowned Black feminist theorists and practitioners bell hooks and Patricia Hill-Collins provided the majority of the structural framework. In this study, in-depth interviewing was used with the participants. Two interviews were conducted in person with each member. The first interview consisted of 11 open-ended questions focused on experiences related to work, family, education, mentorship, and caring for self. The second interview questions were derived from the participants' responses in the first interview. The implications and potential lessons to be learned from this research are embedded in the actions of those involved in the communities of the participants. In its complexity and simplicity, the development and impact of community were the most important concepts to come out of the research data. Throughout this study the impact of community for the participants' through their home community, then their new Minnesota community, and later their work community was most critical to their ability to persist personally and professionally in the State of Minnesota. |
