Graduate Program
College Student Affairs
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Semester of Degree Completion
2012
Thesis Director
Dianne Timm
Thesis Committee Member
Jennifer Snipes
Thesis Committee Member
Mona Davenport
Abstract
African American students' perceptions of diversity, inclusion, and hate speech were explored to reveal implications for the efficacy of the university's mission and obligation to diversity. Using qualitative research methodology, six African American female undergraduate students were interviewed via a semi-structured interview protocol. Using constant-comparative analysis common categories were drawn revealing nine salient themes: Artificial Diversity between Races, Implicit Racial Lines, Efforts of Housing Staff, Missed Educational Opportunities, Encounters with Hate Speech, Subtle Acts of Hate Speech, Overcoming Stereotypes, Users of Hate Speech, and Speech Codes are Not the Solution. These findings provided African American students an opportunity to have a voice on issues that affect their educational experiences and suggested further points of discussion for Student Affairs practitioners and future researchers striving to improve campus racial diversity.
Recommended Citation
Grant, Andrea E., "African American Students' Perceptions Of Diversity, Inclusion, And Hate Speech" (2012). Masters Theses. 1061.
https://thekeep.eiu.edu/theses/1061
