Chapter 8: On the Process of Becoming: Black Women Academics Othermothering from the Margins

Building on scholarship about the experiences of Black women in higher education (Irvine, 1991; James & Farmer, 1993; Walker, 1996), this chapter explores the relationships Black female academics forge with each other, not just against oppressive systems, but with the unwavering hope of transforming academic spaces that allow our presence to be recognized, valued and honored. Connecting the concepts of “othermothering” to that of “queen mothering,” this analysis utilizes the conceptual lenses of intersectionality, fictive kinship and historic memory to extend OR expand upon queen mothering as a concrete protective practice in higher education used by black women.