Tokenism in Criminology and Criminal Justice Departments: Problems and Solutions

• Published date: 01 July 2021
• Date: 01 July 2021
• Author: Ojmarrh Mitchell
• DOI: 10.1177/2153368720976764
• Subject Matter: Articles

Article

Tokenism in Criminology

and Criminal Justice

Departments: Problems

and Solutions

Ojmarrh Mitchell

1

Abstract

In this article, I argue that criminology and criminal justice programs exhibit racial

“tokenism,” in that the majority of such programs employ no more than one Black

tenured/tenure track professor. This tokenism creates a plethora of problems that

undermine the contributions of Black faculty and prevent them from achieving their

full potential. I use my own experiences to illustrate these issues. I conclude with

potential solutions to the problems identified.

Keywords

diversity, tokenism, African Americans, criminal justice, higher education

Introduction

In this article, I argue that Black professors and the diversity they bring has real

benefits to Criminology and Criminal Justice departments (hereafter CCJ), yet few

CCJ departments have the critical mass of Black professors necessary to fully realize

their benefits and for these scholars to attain their full potential. Most CCJ depart-

ments have no more than one Black professor and many have none. I refer to this

phenomenon as “tokenism,” fully aware of the pejorative nature of this term. I contend

that tokenism is problematic in a host of ways, and then I offer potential solutions to

the tokenism endemic to CCJ departments and academia more generally.

1

School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ, USA

Corresponding Author:

Ojmarrh Mitchell, School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Arizona State University, 411N. Central

Ave., Suite 600, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA.

Email: ojmarrh.mitchell@asu.edu

Race and Justice

2021, Vol. 11(3) 338–346

ªThe Author(s) 2020

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DOI: 10.1177/2153368720976764

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