Fostering inclusion for Black faculty

Abstract

In the midst of a global pandemic, people have been rallying across the world to protest the continual state-sanctioned violence against and the structural inequalities faced by Black people in the United States. In response to this, many non-Black academics within higher education have circulated reading lists and written statements at a dizzying rate. While reading lists are a good starting point, we encourage allyship in the form of praxis. This article offers concrete ways for faculty to engage in praxis to dismantle systems of oppression within higher education. We detail the unique challenges Black faculty experience within higher education and suggest specific ways non-Black faculty can support Black faculty at every stage of their career. Using data from interviews conducted with diverse faculty members, we suggest several action-oriented steps to address how organizational practices, policies, and culture in higher education may be altered to create more equitable and inclusive environments for Black faculty.