ABSTRACT

The current study relies on in-depth interviews with 65 Black males to explore their experiences in a Black Male Initiative (BMI) program at three different higher education institutions in the US. In discussing their narratives, the students articulate the qualitative contributions that BMI had on their sense of self and connectedness on campus. In particular, BMI helped the men formulate a micro-community, which was centered on their shared experiences and cultural familiarity and provided opportunities for them to learn more about themselves. The research findings detail the men’s bonding experiences, including ways their identities matter in how they relate to one another, connect and engage with other Black men, and learn about their race and gender identities. These findings challenge deficit projections of Black male students as underachieving and uncaring about their education (and future) and highlight some benefits they attribute to and accrue from being in community.

摘要

当前的研究依赖于对 65 名黑人男性的深入访谈，以探索他们在美国三所不同高等教育机构的黑人男性倡议 (BMI) 计划中的经历。在讨论他们的叙述时，学生们阐明了 BMI 对他们在校园中的自我意识和连通性的定性贡献。尤其是BMI帮助男士们建立了一个以他们的共同经历和文化熟悉度为中心的微型社区，为他们提供了更多了解自己的机会。研究结果详细介绍了男性的亲密经历，包括他们的身份如何影响彼此的关系、与其他黑人男性的联系和互动，以及了解他们的种族和性别身份。