Knowing Black Women: Citing and Centering Sistas in Perilous Times

Dr. Brittany Williams, University of Vermont

Black women and girls have been monumental in shifting educational climates. Yet, their existence, much like their knowledge production, remains systematically ignored. Despite Black women holding the most degrees within the Black community, they are least likely to hold meaningful leadership positions in K-12 and higher education. Of those Black women who ascend to educational leadership roles, they are deeply impacted by problems of pay inequality. To build educational spaces for gender parity and racial equity, institutions must ensure that Black women are represented within leadership and hold advanced and executive roles. Join Dr. Brit Williams to discuss how racial capitalism, anti-Blackness, and misogynoir impact Black women’s experiences and professional trajectories in higher education climates. Moreover, come to understand how Black women’s critical theories and knowledge underscore the realities of pay inequality and differential workplace support for and among Black women in education as systemic, intentional, and ongoing.