ABSTRACT
This chapter presents one African American woman’s view of why the apparent change in racial climate has not been fully successful at balancing the scales of equity in the academic arena. It shows that although American society is more tolerant than it used to be, it is a long way from being cured of racism. At all moments beyond high school, like the moments of high school and the moments prior to high school, the prospects for Blacks are dim. The retention rates of African Americans in predominantly White educational institutions are dismal. In 1985, Black students represented 7 percent of all incoming first-year students; in 1989, they represented only 3 percent of all graduates. Once in the academy, African Americans are located disproportionately at the lower levels. Consider that although African Americans make up only 4.7 percent of all full-time faculty, over 60 percent of these African Americans are located at the level of assistant professor or below.
