The experience of racial microaggressions among faculty of color at community colleges: A generic qualitative inquiry

Research on the experiences of faculty of color has indicated that they experience racial microaggressions that can lead to harmful effects. Because previous research on racial microaggressions has emphasized the experiences of faculty of color at four-year institutions, this research study examined the experience of racial microaggressions among faculty of color in community colleges. This generic qualitative study used semistructured interviews to allow six part-time and full-time African American/Black female faculty members to describe their experiences with racial microaggressions, their responses to the offensive behaviors, and the coping strategies used to manage their responses and to prevent deleterious outcomes. Results of the analysis indicated faculty of color experienced four themes related to racial microaggressions: Environmental Indignities, Assumption of Inferiority, Challenges to Professionalism or Professoriate, and Challenges to Progress and Advancement. The remaining themes were Emotional Responses and Internal Struggles and Coping with Racial Microaggressions. The research findings suggested a need to further study faculty of color experiences in community colleges and to have institutions encourage positive discourse on race, as well as engage in practices that support faculty of color.