I’s Tired Boss: Reflections of a Southern Black Woman Higher Education Professional

Abstract

Historically white institutions (HWI) have long benefited from the labor of the enslaved. The stronghold of institutional racism remains and the fight for equity is a constant battle. For Black women, their knowledge, voice, and presence are often overlooked and silenced. This reflection article shares the experiences of a southern Black woman higher education professional and her counterstories of resistance while working at a HWI through a critical race theory lens. As the increase of racial unrest weighs heavily on the souls of Black folk in the United States, this article will highlight the author’s reflections of moving towards acts of resistance and her thoughts for holding institutions accountable to dismantle institutional racism.