Identity Formation within Historically Black Colleges and Universities
Spaces of Becoming
Published on 18. September 2025
192 pages
978-1-9787-6989-2 (ISBN)
Description
Drawing from institutional research, this book advocates for the ongoing importance of HBCUs and shows how their curriculum, programming, and self-understanding all point to education as a strategy for enhancing the whole person.
Over the years, historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) have played a significant role in the formation of Black identity in a society that struggles to appreciate difference. Bringing the vitality of these institutions to a larger public, high profile donors and advocates have served to safeguard the ongoing necessity of what HBCUs represent. Drawing on scholars from various disciplinary backgrounds, Anthony B. Pinn and the contributors explore the intersections of race and higher education through the lens of self-awareness and community awareness. The chapters tackle areas such as how HBCUs have handled focusing on (or not focusing on) Black history and Black cultural production in their courses, identity formation of international students at HBCUs, HBCUs contribution to identity formation in a global context-promoting Pan-Africanism, and how HBCUs promote healthy identity formation for Black students. Through institutional research, this book provides a uniquely layered and historical sensitive discussion of how HBCUs developed and their relationship to issues of Blackness and personhood.
Over the years, historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) have played a significant role in the formation of Black identity in a society that struggles to appreciate difference. Bringing the vitality of these institutions to a larger public, high profile donors and advocates have served to safeguard the ongoing necessity of what HBCUs represent. Drawing on scholars from various disciplinary backgrounds, Anthony B. Pinn and the contributors explore the intersections of race and higher education through the lens of self-awareness and community awareness. The chapters tackle areas such as how HBCUs have handled focusing on (or not focusing on) Black history and Black cultural production in their courses, identity formation of international students at HBCUs, HBCUs contribution to identity formation in a global context-promoting Pan-Africanism, and how HBCUs promote healthy identity formation for Black students. Through institutional research, this book provides a uniquely layered and historical sensitive discussion of how HBCUs developed and their relationship to issues of Blackness and personhood.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
United States
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Illustrations
1 b/w illus and 3 tables
File size
0,33 MB
ISBN-13
978-1-9787-6989-2 (9781978769892)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Anthony B. Pinn
Identity Formation within Historically Black Colleges and Universities
Spaces of Becoming
Book
approx. 11/2025
Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
€113.90
Not yet published
Person
Anthony B. Pinn is Agnes Cullen Arnold Distinguished Professor Humanities and Professor of Religion at Rice University, USA.
Content
List of Figures
List of Tables
List of Contributors
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Anthony B. Pinn (Rice University, USA)
Part I: International Perspectives
Chapter One: Fugitivity and 'The Black University': Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and the Future of African American Studies in the Era of Anti-Black Fascism
Jeanelle K. Hope (Prairie View A&M University, USA)
Chapter Two: HBCUs and Identity Formation: One Heart, Two Worlds
Candy H. Ratliff (Texas Southern University, USA)
Chapter Three: Ties that Bind: HBCUs as a Catalyst for Identity Development and Incubator for Pan-African Realization
Jakia Marie (Grand Valley State University, USA)
Part II: Domestic Perspectives (US)
Chapter Four: The Irrefutable Power of (the) People: Estimating the Influence of HBCUs on Black Students' Personal and Collective Identity Formation
Terrell L. Strayhorn (Virginia Union University, USA)
Chapter Five: Pressing on for the Prize: Teaching Atlanta, HBCUs, Black Identity, and the Showdown of Intra-Racial Class Politics for Black College Goers in Today's Society
Maurice J. Hobson (Georgia State University, USA)
Chapter Six: Capitalism, Classism, Colorism, and Code Switching: Challenges to Healthy Black Identity in Higher Education
Cheryl A. Kirk-Duggan (Shaw University Divinity School, USA)
Conclusion
Anthony B. Pinn (Rice University, USA)
Index
List of Tables
List of Contributors
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Anthony B. Pinn (Rice University, USA)
Part I: International Perspectives
Chapter One: Fugitivity and 'The Black University': Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and the Future of African American Studies in the Era of Anti-Black Fascism
Jeanelle K. Hope (Prairie View A&M University, USA)
Chapter Two: HBCUs and Identity Formation: One Heart, Two Worlds
Candy H. Ratliff (Texas Southern University, USA)
Chapter Three: Ties that Bind: HBCUs as a Catalyst for Identity Development and Incubator for Pan-African Realization
Jakia Marie (Grand Valley State University, USA)
Part II: Domestic Perspectives (US)
Chapter Four: The Irrefutable Power of (the) People: Estimating the Influence of HBCUs on Black Students' Personal and Collective Identity Formation
Terrell L. Strayhorn (Virginia Union University, USA)
Chapter Five: Pressing on for the Prize: Teaching Atlanta, HBCUs, Black Identity, and the Showdown of Intra-Racial Class Politics for Black College Goers in Today's Society
Maurice J. Hobson (Georgia State University, USA)
Chapter Six: Capitalism, Classism, Colorism, and Code Switching: Challenges to Healthy Black Identity in Higher Education
Cheryl A. Kirk-Duggan (Shaw University Divinity School, USA)
Conclusion
Anthony B. Pinn (Rice University, USA)
Index
