Black Girl Personal Statement

STATEMENT OF PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND & PURPOSE I was never supposed to make it out. The United States educational system has been purposefully and strategically distorted to perpetuate White racist ideologies. These ideologies do their best to make it nearly impossible for a Black girl from the hood to graduate. Yet, here I stand. I have earned a bachelor's degree from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Master's degree from Loyola Marymount University in spite of a system that was not meant for me. I am here today because of a village of Black women who wrapped their arms around me and empowered me to persevere. It is because of them that I am able to counsel, teach, advocate for, and inspire Black students daily. These women

In 1962, Malcolm X spoke these powerful words, "The most disrespected person in America is the Black woman. The most unprotected person in America is the Black woman. The most neglected person in America is the Black woman." It is shocking that more than sixty years later, his words still ring true. Black women are under chronic stress due to structural racism and sexism, yet they are expected to be strong and persist. Academia is just one sector where Black women are disrespected, unprotected, and neglected. In Against Captivity: Black Girls and School Discipline Policies in the Afterlife of Slavery, Connie Wun (2016) explains that Black women must endure increased disciplinary action, surveillance, and a lack of agency. These added practices enhance the emotional trauma Black students feel within schools. Attending school should not make students feel defeated and mentally drained. As a Black woman who has navigated the educational system for 20-plus years, I experienced feelings of inferiority and the difficulty that comes with thriving in institutions that have historically discriminated against people of color. Therefore, if given the opportunity, I intend to research how Black girls experience trauma in schools and the impact these inequities adversely have on their mental health, achievement, and the school

It is infuriating for us to live in a society that continues to dim their light and diminish their academic aspirations. Paulo Freire (2017) eloquently states, "There is no such thing as neutral education. Education either functions as an instrument to bring about conformity or freedom." Therefore, I owe it to my students to fight for equity in education and prove to them that, contrary to what society projects, they can be successful in higher education and beyond. By earning my doctoral degree and incorporating my counseling knowledge, I hope to be able to conduct further research into how various challenges psychologically impact Black girls and establish systemic techniques to combat the oppressive system to ensure their