Black women academics often navigate higher education systems that render them hyper(in)visible or intellectually disposable. This book explores their experiences in British and postcolonial British Caribbean universities, drawing on intersectional frameworks and qualitative research. Through in-depth interviews and intersectional renderings, it examines how these scholars resist marginalization, build community and challenge institutional inequities. Grounded in Black British Feminism and Afro-Caribbean Feminist Thought, the volume illuminates the strategies that sustain and transform academic lives while addressing systemic barriers. This is an important contribution to debates on race, gender and coloniality in comparative higher education, offering insight for researchers, educators and policymakers committed to equity and inclusion.
Saran Stewart is Full Professor of Comparative Higher Education at University of Connecticut and co-lead for intersectional and comparative advancement of racial equity for social justice initiative.
Introduction: Contextualizing the Umbilical Cord Between the British and Postcolonial British Caribbean1. Intersections of Visibility in British and Postcolonial British Caribbean Universities2. Black Feminisms: Intersectionality, Black British and Afro-Caribbean Feminisms3. Artistic Resistance, Body Narratives and Self-Representation4. “Black Swans Swimming in Frozen Lakes”: Hypervisibility and Invisibility in the Academy5. Blackmothering, Misogynoir and Institution-Sanctioned Violence6. “It Takes a Village”: Community, Mentorship, Well-Being and Support7. Policy Implications and Institutional ReformsConclusion: Toward a Black Woman Academy