Beyond the Rhetoric: “Supporting” Graduate Students of Color

With the increase of graduate students of color at predominantly White institutions, graduate programs, affiliated departments, and the institution as a whole are being forced to look at issues of race. Feelings and attitudes that students of color experience during their graduate careers are often difficult to overcome when there is a lack of acknowledgement and action on the part of the institution and graduate program to educate themselves about issues associated with race. This, unfortunately, is a reality for many graduate students of color at predominantly White institutions. Through the review of literature and personal communications the author will share some of the challenges associated with the graduate school experience for students of color and its impact on their self-concept