We’re Not OK

“Chapter 1 Why Are You Talking White? Code-Switching in Academia Justin T. Stewart Introduction Inequities in representation associated with race across the United States of America are substantial, as evidenced by the lack of African American faculty in colleges and universities. In fall 2018, of the 1.5 million faculty in degree-granting postsecondary institutions, 54 percent were full-time, and 46 percent were part-time. Of the full-time, roughly 75 percent were made up of White males and females, while 3 percent accounted for Black males, females, and Hispanics (National Center for Education Statistics, 2018). Such a low percentage illustrates the limited diversity amongst professors in higher education, particularly within predominantly White institutions (PWIs). Among these faculty of color working in PWIs, concerns regarding tenure, advancement and retention remain constant as they fight to dispel any negative perceptions, fueled by biases, to be accepted and legitimized by their White colleagues and students. The manifestation of these perceptions have created hostile environments, with covert and overt acts of racism directed at the intelligence and ability of Black faculty, all of which have proven to diminish paths to future opportunities”–