A Black Woman's Guide to Earning a Ph.D.: Surviving the First 2 Years

By Nicole A. Telfer

More Black women are needed in the academy. More Black women may want to join the academy, but the academy has not always been accepting of us. Black women who are currently in academia or in doctoral programs face a wide array of social challenges, from racial discrimination to sexism to anti-Black women experiences. Many Black women have hesitated on applying to or starting their doctoral programs to avoid such social challenges. A Black Woman’s Guide to Earning a Ph.D. provides Black women with tips and resources on how to navigate and survive as a doctoral student at a predominantly white university or program. This book focuses primarily on the first two years of graduate school as years 1 and 2 are typically the most challenging. In this book, Black women will read personal stories related to mental health, the impostor syndrome, racial discrimination experiences, and much more. Lastly, this book was written to encourage more Black women to write about their experiences in their doctoral program for others who will come after them. We are all we’ve got.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Sep 11, 2020
• ISBN: 9781664130012

Nicole A. Telfer

Nicole A. Telfer is currently a PhD candidate in Applied Developmental Psychology– with training in child and adolescent development–at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC). Born in Brooklyn, New York, and raised on ackee and saltfish, Nicole is a proud daughter of Jamaican parents and takes pride in her heritage. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Development and Family Studies from Penn State University and a Master of Arts degree in Applied Developmental Psychology from UMBC. As a developmental scientist, Nicole’s research focuses on ethnic-racial socialization practices, social determinants of health, the role of intersectionality, and finding ways to improve the educational experiences and developmental outcomes of Black youth. Ultimately, Nicole hopes to create preventive intervention programs and centers in inner-city neighborhoods for racially minoritized youth and their overall wellbeing. Outside of academia and research, Nicole loves to travel, enjoys listening to H.E.R and Jazmin Sullivan, finds pleasure in reading radical books, and spends ample time tending to her plants. She is a professional spoken-word artist and author and co-author of three books: Freed, A Black Woman’s Guide to Earning a PhD, and Phoenix Phenomenon.

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Copyright © 2020 by Nicole A. Telfer.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Rev. date: 09/15/2020

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CONTENTS

Preface

Chapter 1   Before the Journey to Earning a Ph.D.

Graduate School: The Application Process

Three Inaccurate Assumptions About the Ph.D.

The Beginning of my Journey to the Ph.D.

Chapter 2   Whiteness Exposed on Orientation Day

The Fall Semester of My First Year

Establishing a Support System

Therapy for Black Girls

With God on my Journey

Microaggressions and Racism in Graduate School

The End of the Fall Semester of My First Year

Chapter 3   The Spring Semester of My First Year

Navigating White Academic Spaces

Phase One of Thesis Writing

Applying for Fellowships and Scholarships

Creating Black Spaces: The Black Graduate Student Organization

Celebration of Black Lives

Chapter 4   Year 1, Complete

The Academic Summer To-Do List

Chapter 5   The Fall Semester of My Second year

The Beauty of my Village

Chapter 6   The Spring Semester of My Second Year

Phase Two of Thesis Writing

A Graduate Student’s Biggest Fear

The ‘BET Awards Show’ For Black Graduate Students

Chapter 7   Navigating Tragedies as a Black Graduate Student

Black Lives Matter

Say HER name

Chapter 8   Phase Three of Thesis Writing: The Finale

Surviving the First Two Years of Graduate School: Lessons Learned

For Black Women

Acknowledgements

For my ancestors who made me the Black woman that I am today.

For every Black woman on the face of this earth—

You amaze and inspire those around you. You are the true

definition of resilience. Always remember to be kind to yourself.

Most importantly, always remember that it all began with you.

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PREFACE

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H ERE’S THE STORY about how I began writing this book– I was reading Eloquent Rage by Dr. Brittney Cooper and was inspired after reading just the first chapter. From the beginning to the end, I appreciated how vulnerable Dr. Cooper was, and I thought to myself, Wow, there are still Black women writing books that speak to me and that I can relate to. Then, I thought about this amazing idea that my aunt Charlyne casually gave me two days before Christmas of 2018. It was to write about my experiences as a Black graduate student in a very white doctoral program.

I did not initially challenge her idea because I assumed that there were already books written to help Black women or women of color transition into [and complete] their Ph.D. programs. But even if there weren’t any written books, I did not think that I, a graduate student, would be qualified to write one. After a quick Google search, I came across one book written by Anna Green and LeKita Scott in 2003 that provides tips and resources for African Americans interested in pursuing a Ph.D. Their book was very informative, and I wish that more women of color were encouraged to share their story with those who would come after them. Having a Ph.D. does not validate your experiences as a doctoral student. You should feel liberated to talk about your experiences wherever you are on your journey.

That being said, I hope more Black women in graduate programs feel empowered enough to write about their experiences and provide tips and guidance to other Black women who may choose to enroll someday. It is important to note that not all Black women have the same experiences in academia. Thus, this book speaks about my transition into my program and the challenges that I have faced. This book was written with vulnerability, transparency, and honesty. This book focuses specifically on the first two years, as I believe that years 1 and 2 are the most challenging when transitioning into graduate school. This book covers all that I have learned so far that I believe is worth sharing. This book is not about offending white people, so if you suffer from white fragility, then maybe this book is not for you to read … or maybe it is. Although I am in a Psychology doctoral program, this book is for Black women in all academic fields. I understand that every doctoral program may be different; however, this book contains important information for all Black women. Most importantly, this book was made for Black women by a Black woman, and I am unapologetic about it. I want to remind you that you are capable, brilliant, and necessary, and you will get that Ph.D.

However, please understand that it will not be easy, and along your journey, there may be people who make it harder just because you are a Black woman. It is crucial for us to understand that although we may have what it takes to earn a doctorate degree, there are systems intentionally set in place to prevent us from doing so. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, of the doctoral degrees awarded to women in the 2014-15 academic year, only 10.3 percent were awarded to Black women compared to 66 percent for white women in the United States. That number has been steady ever since. This is a serious problem, and raises a couple of questions:

1) What kind of support do Black women need that they are not receiving in their programs?

2) How can Black women create a community for themselves to hold each other accountable?

That statistic profoundly resonated with me, and it is infuriating and heartbreaking when white people say, Stop making everything about race or I don’t see color. If you do not see an issue with these numbers, then you are part of the problem.

My hope is that this book will be useful to Black women who are in doctorate programs, who will be starting very soon, or who are interested in pursuing a Ph.D. in the future. Trying to prove to the world that you are capable of contributing to your field can be exhausting. It is even more exhausting when you feel alone in this process. In every single class that I have taken, I find myself constantly searching for another Black woman. Unfortunately, my search is not always successful. I do not think that individuals who are part of the majority will ever understand what this feels like until they are in a space where minoritized groups outnumber them. A wise professor told me and a few other graduate students that we should not spend our entire graduate career trying to fight the system, but instead graduate and be the system. I was so grateful for his words of reassurance. I cannot reiterate this enough – they do not want you to earn your degree. They as in the type of white people who understand how the system of racism works, understand that they benefit from it and, therefore, refuse to dismantle it.

You cannot quit. Your mama, pops, aunties, uncles, siblings, and the rest of your family are cheering you on. Your friends and loved ones are cheering you on. Think of them. Think of anyone or anything that will help you push through to get your degree. It’s yours and you are so deserving of it. So, I say this in the most professional Black girl way – Sis, you betta’ keep going ‘cause the grind cannot stop!

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CHAPTER 1

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Before the Journey to

Earning a Ph.D.

S INCE THE AGE of five, I have had dreams of becoming a doctor. The most common question that children are asked is, What do you want to be when you grow up? I can remember always responding with my soft and timid voice, A doctor because I knew that at some point in my life, I wanted people to refer to me as Dr. Telfer. When I first began my college journey at Penn State, I decided that I was going to go into the medical field and become a pediatrician. My decision to choose this particular career may have been influenced by my West Indian parents. Growing up in a Black Caribbean household meant I only had three options with respect to career choice: doctor, lawyer, or engineer. I had absolutely no interest in the latter two, so doctor it was. In my junior year of college, I started taking prerequisite courses for medical school, which included biology, chemistry, mathematics, and so on.

Prior to enrolling, I knew in my heart that I had no desire to go to medical school but making my mother proud was very important to me. She also did not make it very easy for me to reconsider this career path as she would always ask, Still studying to be a medical doctor, right? However, by the end of my junior year, I came to the conclusion that majoring in biology and minoring in chemistry was not going to work out, and this was reflected in my grades – I received Cs in many of my classes. When I spoke with my mentor, she told me that if I wanted to graduate on time, I should consider switching my major to something else. After my mentor and I discussed my interests and my career goals, she said, It sounds like you are more interested in pursuing a Ph.D. than an M.D. I knew she was right, but her analysis meant that I would no longer be attending medical school.

I then met with my academic advisor to switch my major to human development and my minor to psychology. While I felt relieved, I was not completely satisfied because I knew that mom would be unhappy with my decision. She has always pictured at least one of her children becoming a medical doctor, and I feared ruining that dream for her. When I informed my academic advisor of my dilemma, she told me that she works with students who find themselves in this same predicament all the time. She looked at me and said, I am going to tell you what I tell the rest of the students who want to make their parents proud. You have to be proud of yourself, too. In fact, you have to be proud of yourself first. It makes absolutely no sense to be in a major that you do not enjoy. You are taking these classes, not your parents. The best thing for you to do is sit down with your mother and let her know the new academic path that you have decided to take. There are doctors for the mind and then there are doctors for the body. You will be a doctor for the mind. Go for it!

The Mama, I made it motto may hold true for many of us, but it is important that we are also proud of ourselves for making it. We have to do what makes us happy first and foremost. My mother might initially be disappointed with my decision, but when I call her a few years from now to let her know that I defended my dissertation, she won’t even remember that medical school was once an interest of mine. The talk that I had with my academic advisor made me eager about this new journey of applying to doctoral programs. I started to envision all of my accomplishments and success stories as a psychologist, and I could not be any more excited to begin the application process for graduate school.

Dear Black woman reading this: Remember that you are creating a life for yourself. While it may be your dream