Date of Award

2024

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Education

Abstract

This qualitative phenomenological case study examines the experiences of some Black college students in historically White institutions (HWIs) in Louisville, Kentucky during nationally publicized incidents of police violence that occurred in 2020. The study intends to identify the academic, emotional, and social experiences that impacted collegiate experiences of Black students in Louisville at the time of the extrajudicial killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Jacob Blake, and Rayshard Brooks. Understanding how HWIs in Louisville responded to these incidents and how those responses were felt by Black students could provide insights into best practices for supporting Black students and eliminating systematic disparities. In-depth, semi-structured interviews of current and former Black students, and faculty and staff at HWIs in Louisville were the primary means for data collection. Campus newspapers, departmental reports, and other university documents supplemented the interview data. Through this research, higher education leaders and administrators can better understand the adversities and traumatic effects of high-profile racialized violence on Black students and the most effective methods to support them. The study adds to the collective literature about Black students at HWIs and provides insights into how campuses can improve their practices to dismantle oppressive structures. Finally, it informs the methods used by institutions to support and advocate for Black students navigating their college experiences while simultaneously living through racialized violence in American society.

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