ABSTRACT
Black cultural centers (BCCs) have long since served as bulwarks of cultural identity and solidarity for African American students attending predominantly White institutions (PWIs). However, abiding beliefs in the value added of BCCs are largely predicated on anecdotal evidence, and relatively few empirical research studies focus on the role of BCCs in the academic and social lives of African American collegians at PWIs. In this chapter, we outline the sociohistorical currents that influenced the creation of BCCs at PWIs, summarize the literature on BCCs and their evolution at PWIs, and, drawing on findings from a mixed-methods study, illustrate how BCCs provide supports that African American students at PWIs view as critical to their success in college.
