What Do You Call a Black Woman With a PhD? A N*****: How Race Trumps Education No Matter What

• Published date: 01 July 2021
• Date: 01 July 2021
• DOI: 10.1177/2153368720988892
• Author: Henrika McCoy
• Subject Matter: Articles

Article

What Do You Call a Black

Woman With a PhD?

A N*****: How Race

Trumps Education

No Matter What

Henrika McCoy

1

Abstract

The 16-year journey from being a doctoral student to a tenured Associate Professor

as a Black woman has been eventful. This essay provides a peek into some of the

unforgettable moments experienced by one Black female PhD during that journey. It

highlights how having a PhD as a Black woman has not resulted in the same respect

and reverence generally afforded to those who are White. It reminds us of the work

that still needs to be done if we are ever going to be able to honestly say that the

playing field is even. It is also a story of resolve and commitment, and how it can be

possible to find new ways to contribute to improving outcomes for Black people, even

when current events make doing so seem impossible.

Keywords

Black/African American, racism, white privilege, intersectionality, microagressions

As I began to consider what I would write, and how I could contribute to the broader

conversation, I was reminded of various experiences that I have put on the shelf, out of

sight but not out of mind. I thought about my 16-year journey from doctoral student to

tenured Associate Professor. I considered the experiences I have had during the past

few months in my new role as Interim Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and

Student Services. I also thought about how the unimaginable circumstances of 2020

have changed what I have been motivated, and had the bandwidth, to write and focus

1

Jane Addams College of Social Work, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA

Corresponding Author:

Henrika McCoy, Jane Addams College of Social Work, University of Illinois Chicago, 1040 W. Harrison MC

309, Chicago, IL 60607, USA.

Email: hmccoy@uic.edu

Race and Justice

2021, Vol. 11(3) 318–327

ªThe Author(s) 2021

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DOI: 10.1177/2153368720988892

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