We look to the cultural practice of Ubuntu, “I AM BECAUSE WE ARE” for grounding in turbulent times as Black Doctoral Students and Doctoral Degree completers demonstrate resilience in face of the systemic racism, oppression, and discrimination. It is a reminder of our journey as individuals exists on a foundation of community and the networks we establish with each other in our professional lives. While many of these networks abound and flourish as productive collaborative spaces, sadly too often Black students, faculty, and administrators do not take full advantage of what they have to offer. In recent months there have been several resignations and deaths of Black leaders. Last year the President of Temple University, Dr. Jason Weingard resigned, influenced by mounting pressure from key stakeholders and constituents. His position was replaced by a Black woman leader Dr. Joanne Kemp, who subsequently fell to her death while on duty at the university. Though these leaders appeared to be well-established, seen as senior key officials in their networks, many questions were raised about their experiences and whether they had the support that was needed in order to fully thrive in their jobs.
In 2024 we witnessed the public attacks on Black scholars. Former Harvard President Claudine Gay resigned from her role in less than a year of her being on the job – the first Black woman named president and the shortest presidential tenure at Harvard University, ever. We also witnessed the public death of Dr. Antoinette “Bonnie” Candia Bailey, who took her own life in response to a work environment that facilitated a sense of “hopelessness” amidst a myriad of issues where she felt devalued and unappreciated. We call on the philosophy of Ubuntu for acknowledgement of these experiences and as a reminder that our “we” is a resource of support. Furthermore, Ubuntu helps us to understand how we increase our awareness about the importance of professional networks, and to strengthen our acknowledgement of them as survival mechanisms and tools for health equity and wellness.
Ubuntu also acknowledges and reinforces our identity within our community and provides space for us to be our best selves. As we navigate the harsh realities of institutional oppression and the racial and ethnic disparities we experience, involvement in professional networks does not only support our success but helps us to thrive. There are several examples of professional networks where the Ubuntu philosophy is evident.
Bertrand-Jones, Osbourne-Lampkin, Patterson and Davis (2015) discuss the importance of professional networks as informal and formal structures in the socialization of Black doctoral students. In particular, they address the experiences of Black women who participated in the Research Boot Camp that facilitated mentoring relationships with senior scholars, provided social support and strengthened the professional identities of Black women.
Blockett, Felder, Collier, and Parrish (2016) discuss the importance of an asset-based approach to understanding socialization of Black doctoral students. The notion of Ubuntu is a socialization concept in acknowledgment of identity being supported by contextual factors deemed important by the doctoral student. This focuses on the skills and perspectives doctoral students bring with them to their programs as cultural wealth. This approach to support of Black doctoral students can increase their involvement in activities like professional networks.
Baker (2009) relies on social network theory to underscore the value of social community in the development of professional identity. In alignment with Ubuntu, this discussion of social network theory emphasizes the importance of family and community in the academic success of doctoral students. In addition to the ongoing doctoral education research on the importance of professional networks, we highlight three important professional networks that continue to support the Unbuntu philosophy: The Black Doctoral Network, The Doc Chat, and Black Doctorates Matter.
The Black Doctoral Network (BDN) promotes the Ubuntu philosophy through its work with undergraduate and graduate students to provide a supportive community for Black scholars as they work to navigate through academia and professional sectors. As a leading organization for students and professionals of color, over the last decade, the BDN has been dedicated to helping create more equitable, inclusive, and culturally diverse campus communities.
In addition, the BDN offers an array of networking and professional development opportunities for its members, which includes participation in the Western Regional and National conferences, access to writing seminars and virtual workshops, connection to university partners who are recruiting for faculty positions, and much more. As our country continues to wrestle with the weight of inequity and systemic oppression that occurs in higher education, the BDN creates an invaluable space for scholars to receive mentorship, acknowledgement, and guidance. In the coming years, the BDN is committed to serving as a bridge leader that can connect the paths between Black scholars, academic institutions, and the community at large.
The Doc Chat™️ promotes the Ubuntu philosophy through its work to provide an outlet for viewers to think about pursuing Doctorate Degrees and gives insights on current events & topics. Streaming on LinkedIn & YouTube with over 30,000 views in its first 2 seasons, The Doc Chat brings voices of Doctors from all academic backgrounds to discuss their life and doctoral journeys on how they became a Doctor, along with talking about their businesses, books, and ventures that make the World we live in greater for everyone.
The Doctor Talker™️ unveils the incredible stories of determination, disappointment, and desire of 6 different Doctors who overcame the odds to complete their distinct Doctorate degrees. This book emerged from the vision of John C. Turner, PhD to provide the real accounts of Doctors to help people discover their confidence with encouragement, inspiration, and support to help them reach their dreams of becoming a Doctor.
Black Doctorates Matter promotes the Ubuntu philosophy through its work to understand the socialization experiences of doctoral degree completers past, present, and future and our contributions to community and broader society. This work involves both the development of research and practice that focuses on building community where we emphasize the importance of why increasing awareness about the contributions of Black doctors is important. Black Doctorates Matter acknowledges the ways Black Doctors have not been equitably represented in a variety of ways due to systemic oppression and racism.
Unbuntu mitigates the existence of gatekeeping tools and tactics that may not consider what students value in their experience. The Ubuntu philosophy underscores and reinforces the development of professional identity when doctoral students are moving towards their goals of academic success. There has been a lot of “gatekeeping” in doctoral degree completion for a very long time. Many people get into it but do not realize it takes professional networking to get out of it and be successful.. That is where professional networks such as the work we all are doing comes into play. We just do not want Black People to become Doctors. We want Black People to become Doctors who get to the mountaintop and pull up others with them along with showing them avenues of writing/publishing, career opportunities in and out of academia, and how to create scholarship that will change the world.
References:
Bertrand Jones, T., Osborne-Lampkin, L., Patterson, S., & Davis, D. J. (2015). Creating a “safe and supportive environment:” Mentoring and professional development for recent black women doctoral graduates. International Journal of Doctoral Studies, 10, 483-499. Retrieved from http://ijds.org/Volume10/IJDSv10p483-499Jones1748.pdf
Blockett, R., Felder, P.P., Collier, J., & Parrish, (2016). Pathways to the professoriate: Exploring African-American doctoral student socialization and the pipeline to the academic profession, Western Journal of Black Studies, 40(2).
Felder, P.P., Parrish, W.P., Collier, J.N., & Blockett, R. (2016). Understanding programmatic support of doctoral student socialization via social media. Teachers College Record, Date Published: February 15, 2016, http://www.tcrecord.org, ID Number: 19451.
Sweitzer, Vicki (Baker) (2009) Towards a Theory of Doctoral Student Professional Identity Development: A Developmental Networks Approach, The Journal of Higher Education, 80:1, 1-33, DOI: 10.1080/00221546.2009.11772128
