A Critical Narrative Inquiry Into the Triumphs and Struggles of Five African-American Women with Doctoral Degrees

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Electronic Theses and Dissertations Graduate Studies, Jack N. Averitt College of

Fall 2005

Resilient Lives: A Critical Narrative Inquiry into the Triumphs and Struggles of Five African-American Women with Doctoral Degrees

Paula Booker Baker

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Recommended Citation Baker, Paula Booker, "Resilient Lives: A Critical Narrative Inquiry into the Triumphs and Struggles of Five African-American Women with Doctoral Degrees" (2005). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 484. https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/etd/484

This dissertation (open access) is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Studies, Jack N. Averitt College of at Digital Commons@Georgia Southern. It has been accepted for inclusion in Electronic Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons@Georgia Southern. For more information, please contact [email protected]. RESILIENT LIVES: A CRITICAL NARRATIVE INQUIRY INTO THE TRIUMPHS

AND STRUGGLES OF FIVE AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN WITH DOCTORAL

DEGREES

PAULA BOOKER BAKER

(Under the Direction of Delores D. Liston)

ABSTRACT

This inquiry explored the triumphs and trials of five African American women

with doctoral degrees in the field of education. The project is a storytelling and

questioning inquiry that is woven around themes of race, gender, spirituality, and family

as experienced and interpreted through narratives. Stories presented were used as

channels through which the academia and the world were explored. Although the study

focused on the experiences of five African American women, their stories provided the

space to identify events, experiences, people, and circumstances that helped to empower

them. Realizing everyone has unique perspectives to contribute, these stories offer

support for others faced with obstacles to understand overt and covert adversities will

appear nevertheless they can be overcome. As life long learners and educators of others,

we ought to remain cognizant of the needs of students. This exploration provides positive support to counteract the negative media stereotypes and images that bombard our everyday lives.

Despite double marginalization because of gender and race, these women that participated in the study excelled and became successful. With their diverse experiences, these women developed strategies to survive, overcome, and achieve. The findings from 2 this study suggest that the experiences of the African American women were connected with and influenced by their relationships with family and others in a mentorship role. I propose that higher education holds a transforming power for African American women as well as others. These stories and strategies should be shared with others as they were shared with the researcher to provide positive encouragement and support as they begin their academic journeys.

INDEX WORDS:

Black Feminist Thought, Critical Race Theory, Narrative Inquiry, Black Women, Higher Education, Doctoral Studies, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Predominantly White Institutions, Success

RESILIENT LIVES: A CRITICAL NARRATIVE INQUIRY INTO THE TRIUMPHS

AND STRUGGLES OF FIVE AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN WITH DOCTORAL

DEGREES

PAULA BOOKER BAKER

B.S. Business, Tuskegee University, 1992

M.S. Education, Troy State University Dothan, 1996

A Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of Georgia Southern University in

Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree

DOCTOR OF EDUCATION

STATESBORO, GEORGIA

2005

Paula Booker Baker

RESILIENT LIVES: A CRITICAL NARRATIVE INQUIRY INTO THE TRIUMPHS

AND STRUGGLES OF FIVE AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN WITH DOCTORAL

DEGREES

PAULA BOOKER BAKER

Major Professor: Delores D. Liston

Committee: Delores D. Liston Saundra M. Nettles Ming Fang He Lori E. Amy

Electronic Version Approved:

December 2005

DEDICATION

This work is dedicated to those who have doubted their abilities. A pessimistic, self-defeating attitude destroys expectations of success. When optimism colors your lenses, and obstacles are approached with confidence and perseverance – success is assured. 7

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to extend my deepest appreciation and heartfelt gratitude to the members of my dissertation committee. I selected you because I believed you would make unique contributions to my study and allow my voice to remain intact – you accepted my invitation and your contributions were indeed exceptional. To Delores

Liston, my chair, you introduced me to a broader lens with which to view myself and my surroundings. This broader frame of reference led to my exploration into Black Feminist

Thought which was pivotal in shaping my thought process. To Saundra Murray Nettles, thank you for sharing your expertise in resiliency, Black feminism, and narratology. To

Ming Fang He, your expertise in narrative inquiry, culture and identity issues helped create the scaffold that shaped my study. To Lori Amy, thank you for sharing you expertise in gender issues. Each of you asked questions that evoked contemplation and brought fluidity to my boundaries. Collectively, I thank you for braving the hurricane winds and torrential rains (early in my dissertation process) that closed schools for miles in order to meet with a zealous student so that I could continue on my journey.

I appreciate all those who have contributed to my lived experiences (my story) which have had an essential impact on my dissertation. To my mother, Paulette Booker

Love, thank you for instilling in me a deep running sense of perseverance and faith. You were the first Black feminist I knew. To my parents, Willie and Paulette Love, thank you for always stepping in to entertain and take care of your grandson so that I could work longer and read more and complete the requirements for this unique journey of knowledge and growth. Thank you to my siblings Dr. O. Julian Booker and Chante Love

Borders, and my sister-in-law, Amy Baker Booker for taking care of your five year old

8 nephew Ronald and providing me with encouragement as well as a listening ear for the past three years. To my two Ronalds (husband and son), thank you for enjoying takeout and limited family time while I read, researched, and wrote. To my friends and mentors, I am humbled by your encouragement, empathetic ear, prayers and belief in me. Indeed, I am blessed to be surrounded by people who understood when I did not return phone calls or visit. Many, many thanks to Dr. Juanita Sims Doty, Dr. Fannie Richardson Cooley, Dr.

Joyce V. Rhoden, Dr. Francina L. Williams, and Dr. Anna Pearl Atkinson for with out you, this study would not have materialized. You made time in your busy schedule to talk with me and provide stories that allowed the research have an existence. I would also like to thank God for His blessings that allowed me to see this project through to the end.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS...... 7

CHAPTER

1 PRESENTING THE SCENE...... 12

Introduction – Setting the Stage ...... 14

Purpose of Study...... 15

Importance of Storytelling...... 16

Phenomena under Exploration...... 18

Why Storytelling...... 20

Autobiographical Anecdote...... 26

African American Perspectives ...... 37

Significance ...... 39

Conclusion...... 41

2 OUTLINING THE STANCE ...... 43