Examining the Impact of Cultural Identity Restoration Practices on Black College Students: A Case Study

The purpose of this study was to examine and understand how culturally responsive asset-based support programming at the high school level impacts, influences, or mitigates the barriers for Black collegians matriculating towards degree completion. This study utilized a mixed-methods approach which included a quantitative online survey and qualitative semistructured interviews from Black college students who participated in an asset-based cultural restoration program in high school. Five significant findings emerged through the data analysis process. The first finding showed that Black college students learned about who they were because of participating in cultural identity restoration (CIR) practices. The second finding revealed that engagement in CIR practices motivated and pushed the participants to achieve academic success. The third finding showed that CIR practices empowered the participants to build relationships with other Black people and seek them out in all shared spaces. The fourth finding revealed that the participants learned how to seek resources from faculty and staff due to their engagement in CIR practices. The final result showed that participation in CIR practices allowed the participants to believe in their ability to succeed and dream big in life. The conclusions highlighted that CIR practices provide African Americans with a sense of cultural pride, centeredness, liberation, and positive self-identity. In addition, Black students who attend public K-12 schools would benefit greatly from participating in asset-based programs that are culturally responsive to learn about the richness of their culture, develop a positive self-concept, increase their self-efficacy, and empower them to chase their dreams and achieve success. It is recommended that future quantitative and qualitative studies be conducted to examine the effectiveness of cultural identity restoration practices on Black students who participate in afro-centric asset-based programs