Louisiana State University LSU Digital Commons LSU Doctoral Dissertations Graduate School 2016 From The alV ley to the Mountaintop: A Case Study of Resilience and Persistence Among First- Generation African American Males Who Have Achieved Doctoral Success D'Jalon Janeece Jackson Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_dissertations Part of the Education Commons Recommended Citation Jackson, D'Jalon Janeece, "From The alV ley to the Mountaintop: A Case Study of Resilience and Persistence Among First-Generation African American Males Who Have Achieved Doctoral Success" (2016). LSU Doctoral Dissertations. 345. https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_dissertations/345 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at LSU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in LSU Doctoral Dissertations by an authorized graduate school editor of LSU Digital Commons. For more information, please [email protected]. FROM THE VALLEY TO THE MOUNTAINTOP: A CASE STUDY OF RESILIENCE AND PERSISTENCE AMONG FIRST-GENERATION AFRICAN AMERICAN MALES WHO HAVE ACHIEVED DOCTORAL SUCCESS A Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of the Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in The School of Education by D’Jalon Janeece Jackson B.S., Louisiana State University, 2009 M.A., Louisiana State University, 2012 Ed.S., Louisiana State University, 2015 August 2016 This dissertation is dedicated to my father and mother, Drs. Ronald and Tonya Jackson, whose lives as first-generation African Americans who achieved doctoral success despite obstacles encountered, have inspired this research. Mom and Dad, thank you for being resilient and persistent throughout your journeys and serving as my blueprint. I have never once doubted my ability to achieve academically because of your influence and support. Thank you for encouraging me to read as many books as possible, taking me to museums and exposing me to a world outside of my hometown. I am truly grateful for all the sociocultural capital you have bestowed upon me, as it has enabled me to be successful throughout all of my endeavors. This dissertation is also dedicated to my Great-Grandmother, Omer Lee “Mug” Jackson, who never greeted me without first asking if I had been “getting my lesson in” and encouraging me to continue to do so. I have never forgotten those words, and am a living testament your lasting legacy. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS "When I dare to be powerful – to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid." - Audre Lorde To my Glory and the Lifter of my head, My Savior, My Champion, and My Best Friend, who sticks closer than a brother. I am nothing without You and could not have achieved any of this without You. You are my God, but even more so You are the Strength of my Life. Thank You for choosing me and calling me according to Your purpose. I will forever praise Your name. To my soon to be husband and other best friend, Ronald Bell Jr. Thank you for your never ending support. I could not have accomplished this without your peaceful presence. Thank you for letting me vent to you every day and constantly offering words of encouragement. Thank you for being understanding of this time-consuming process and being a trooper. I love you and look forward to a lifetime spent with you, though even that will not be long enough. To my writing partner turned close friend Dr. LaKeitha Poole. You have inspired me in so many ways. You kept me accountable throughout this entire process and it would have been much more difficult to produce this document without you along this journey. God has truly favored you and blessed you with unmistakable purpose. I am so proud of your many accomplishments and because you are unstoppable, the best is yet to come! Get ready to write these books! Let’s Geaux Doc!!! Also special thanks to Dr. Chaunda Allen Mitchell for Motivational Mondays and Transformational Tuesdays and all of your words of wisdom and encouragement to me throughout this process. Thank you to my friend, co-worker, classmate and future Dr. Latrisha Dean for being my partner-in-crime at work and holding down the fort when needed. Thank you for your support and willingness to support me throughout this journey both personally and professionally. You were always careful to remind me what the Word said concerning me, and for that I will always be grateful. You are up next! Thank you to my classmates/friends Dr. Kourtney Gray and Dr. Vincent Harris for your invaluable advice throughout this journey. I am forever grateful to both of your for showing kindness to me, a nervous, first year doctoral student embarking upon this grueling process and showing me the ropes and I am forever grateful for you both. Also thank you to the future Drs. Runell King and Naima Brown. So happy to have had the opportunity to befriend you along this journey. I expect more than great things from you both! Thank you to my closest friends Morrisa Brewer, Courtney Bell and Victoria “Brooke” Langston. You ladies serve as value add to my life and I am grateful that you have celebrated me and supported me along this journey as true friends do. iii Thank you to my prophytes and neophytes gained through the Illustrious Iota Theta Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. The confidence, leadership, sisterhood, and respect for scholarship I gleaned from my membership in the Chapter cannot be matched and has permeated even into this achievement. Thanks especially to my Fall 2007 linesisters who have impacted my life greatly. I am grateful to have you ladies as life-long friends. Forever Fall 07! Thank you to my sisters Tierra Wilson and Courtney Jackson for lifelong support. Also thank you to both my Jackson and Montgomery family members for supporting and encouraging me all my life. Also thank you to my Jubilee Fellowship family for your many prayers. Special thanks to Mr. Randy Fontenot, who has supported my educational journey since I stepped onto LSU’s campus in the summer of 2005 as a Summer Scholar. Thank you for every advising session, letter of recommendation, and word of encouragement. You greatly added to my persistence as an LSU student. Lastly, but certainly not least, I would like to acknowledge my committee of rock stars: Dr. Jennifer Curry, Dr. Lori Martin, Dr. Imre Csaszar and Dr. Roland Mitchell! Dr. Curry, or as I like to call you Dr. Courageous, thank you for sponsoring and recognizing my capabilities even when I did not. You inspire me as I have always been in awe of your confidence and ability to command any room that is gifted with your presence. Thank you for promoting me and advocating for me for the past 6 years as both a Masters and Doctoral student. Dr. Martin, as I have stated in the past, I am extremely grateful to have had your genius on my side during this process. You impact the lives of many and I am appreciative to be acquainted with you. Dr. Csaszar, thank you for you calming presence as a committee member and your genuine concern for my well-being outside of academia. Your feedback throughout this process was very helpful and thought-provoking. Also, thank you for granting me the opportunity to co-teach with you. Dr. Mitchell, thank you for your willingness to step in and serve as a valuable committee member when needed. I truly appreciate every class I have taken that you have taught as they have stretched and equipped me to grow as a professional. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS……………………...………………………………………..……..iii LIST OF TABLES……...……………………………………………………...…………...……vii ABSTRACT……...………………………………………………………………………...…...viii CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION……………………………….…………………………………1 Statement of the Problem……...…………………………………………………………......5 Purpose of the Study……...…………………………………………………………………..8 Overview of Methodology……...………………………………………………………........8 Limitations……...…………………………………………………………...........................10 Definitions of Key Terms……...…………………………………………………………....11 CHAPTER II: REVIEW OF LITERATURE….……………………………………………..….13 Benefits of Higher Education………………………...………...…………………………...13 Risk Factors of AAMs……...……………………………...………………………………..14 Resilience Factors of AAMs……...…………………………………………………..…….20 Persistence Factors of AAMs……...………………………………………………..………22 African American Males and Doctoral Attainment……….……………………..…………29 Theoretical Lens…………………..……...…………………………………………………30 CHAPTER III: METHODOLOGY……..……...……………………………………………..…40 Introduction……………………………………………………………………………...….40 Rationale for Qualitative Methodology…………………………………………………….40 Case Study Design..…………….…...…………………… ……………………………...…40 Research Questions……...…...…………………………...…...……………………………41 Sampling and Participants……...…………………...…………..………………………......42 Data Collection……...……………………………………………...……..………………...43 Data Analysis……...……………………………………………...……..……………….....45 Rigor………………………………………………………………………………………...47 Role of Researcher……...…………………………………………………...………...……50 Institutional Review Board Statement……………………………………………………....51 Limitations……...…………………………………………………………………………...51 CHAPTER IV:ANALYSIS OF DATA AND FINDINGS………………………………………53 Summary of Study……...…………...……...………………………………………….........53 Data Analysis Procedures……...………………………………………………………..…..54 Introduction of Participants……...…………………………….……...………………….....55 Within Case Analysis Findings………………...…………………………………….….….56