Embracing Queer Students’ Diverse Identities at Historically Black Colleges and Universities: A Primer for Presidents, Administrators, and Faculty is both a call to action and a resource for historically Black college and university (HBCU) leaders and administrators, focusing on historical and contemporary issues related to expanding inclusionary policies and practices for members of HBCU communities who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+). The essays, by HBCU presidents, faculty, administrators, alumni, and researchers, explore the specific challenges and considerations of serving LGBTQ+ students within these distinct college and university settings, with the ultimate goal of summoning HBCU communities, higher education scholars, and scholar-practitioners to take thoughtful and urgent action to support and recognize LGBTQ+ students. With this book as a primary resource, HBCUs can work toward becoming fully inclusive campus communities for all of their students.
Foreword by Beverly Guy-Shefthall
Introduction: Steve D. Mobley, Jr.
Section I: Essential Queer and Trans* Voices from With/In Historically Black Colleges and Universities
Chapter 1: And Some of Us Are Queer: An HBCU Sankofa Story
K.T. Ewing
Chapter 2: The (Mis)Education of Yemaya: Fostering Togetherness with Black Trans* Womx[x]yn Students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities through Policy Reformation and (Re)Education
Yemaya Vashti Pope
Chapter 3: Intersectionality in Theory and Praxis: The Role of Student Organizing as Preparation for Fostering Inclusive Spaces as an HBCU Administrator
Trinice McNally
Section II: Acknowledging the Urgent and Necessary: Organizational Accounts of Historically Black College and University Cultural Transformation
Chapter 4: Inclusion Flows From the Top: The Role of Boards in Building Inclusive Campuses at HBCUs
Felecia Commodore and Ashley Gray
Chapter 5: Blazing the Trail: Creating A LGBTQIA Inclusive Campus
Chevelle Moss-Savage, Letizia Gambrell-Boone, and Makola M. Abdullah
Chapter 6: When HBCUs Speak OUT: Navigating HBCU Culture and Queer Student Expectations as Student Affairs Professionals
Darryl B. Holloman, Daryl Lowe, Bonnie Taylor, and Leslie Hall
Chapter 7: Understanding the Engagement and Politics of Quare HBCU Student Leaders
Tobias Raphael Morgan
Chapter 8: Creating Inclusive Academic Spaces for Queer Students at HBCUs
Kathryn C. Wymer, Jennifer Williams, and W. Russell Robinson
Chapter 9: The Lavender Fund, the First Officially Recognized University-wide LGBT Fundraiser in HBCU History: How It Came to Be, and How it Continues
Christopher N. Cross and Diana Lu
Section III: Deliberate and Intentional Scholarly Queer and Trans* HBCU Explorations
Chapter 10: A Manifesto for Black Quare Liberation and Inclusion at HBCUs
Jarrel T. Johnson
Chapter 11: Outsider Within: The Experiences of Queer Black Women College Athletes at Historically Black Colleges and Universities
Christa J. Porter and Akilah R. Carter-Francique
Chapter 12: Queering the Yard: LGBTQ Advocacy, Experiences, and Socialization at Two Public HBCUs
Michele K. Lewis and Isiah Marshall Jr.
Chapter 13: Researching, Alongside, For, and By Black, Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Communities at HBCUs: A Reflection
Lori D. Patton, Nadrea R. Njoku, and Jennifer M. Johnson
Acknowledgments
Notes on Contributors
Foreword by Beverly Guy-Sheftall ix
Introduction: (Re)Calling the Past and Present 1 steve d. mobley jr.
part i: essential queer and trans* voices from with/in historically black colleges and universities
1 And Some of Us Are Queer: An HBCU Sankofa Story 15 k. t. ewing
2 The (Mis)Education of Yémaya: Fostering Togetherness with Black Trans* Womx[x]yn Students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities through Policy Reformation and (Re)Education 32 yémaya diavian pope
3 Intersectionality in Theory and Praxis: The Role of Student Organizing as Preparation for Fostering Inclusive Spaces as an HBCU Administrator 49 trinice mcnally
part ii: acknowledging the urgent and necessary: organizational accounts of cultural transformation at hbcus
4 Inclusion Flows from the Top: The Role of Boards in Building Inclusive Campuses at HBCUs 67 felecia commodore and ashley gray
5 Blazing the Trail: Creating an LGBTQIA-Inclusive Campus 84 chevelle moss-savage, letizia gambrell-boone, and makola m. abdullah
6 When HBCUs Speak OUT: Navigating HBCU Culture and Queer Student Expectations as Student Affairs Professionals 95 darryl b. holloman, daryl lowe,
bonnie taylor, and leslie hall
7 Understanding the Engagement and Politics of Quare HBCU Student Leaders 109 tobias raphael morgan
8 Creating Inclusive Academic Spaces for Queer Students at HBCUs 124 kathryn c. wymer, jennifer m. williams, and w. russell robinson
9 The Lavender Fund, the First Officially Recognized University-Wide LGBT Fundraiser in HBCU History: How It Came to Be and How It Continues 139 christopher n. cross and diana lu
part iii: deliberate and intentional queer and trans* scholarly hbcu explorations
10 A Manifesto for Black Quare Liberation and Inclusion at HBCUs 157 jarrel t. johnson
11 Outsider Within: The Experiences of Queer Black Women College Athletes at Historically Black Colleges and Universities 170 christa j. porter and akilah r. carter-francique
12 Queering the Yard: LGBTQ Advocacy, Experiences, and Socialization at Two Public HBCUs 184 michele k. lewis and isiah marshall jr.
13 Researching Alongside, For, and By Black, Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Communities at HBCUs: A Reflection 196 lori d. patton, nadrea r. njoku, and jennifer m. johnson
Acknowledgments 203
Notes on Contributors 205
Index 000
