Contesting the Terrain of the Ivory Tower: Spiritual Leadership of African American Women in the Academy (Studies in African American History and Culture)

128 Pages·2004·0.8 MB·English

by  Rochelle Garner

STUDIES IN AFRICAN AMERICAN
HISTORY AND CULTURE

Edited by
Graham Russell Hodges
Colgate University
A ROUTLEDGE SERIES
STUDIES IN AFRICAN AMERICAN
HISTORY AND CULTURE

GRAHAM RUSSELL HODGES, General Editor
AFRICANS AND INDIANS
An Afrocentric Analysis of Contacts Between Africans and Indians in Colonial Virginia
Barbara A.Faggins
NEW YORK’S BLACK REGIMENTS DURING THE CIVIL WAR
William Seraile
JESUIT SLAVEHOLDING IN MARYLAND, 1717–1838
Thomas Murphy, S.J.
“WHITE” AMERICANS IN “BLACK” AFRICA
Black and White American Methodist Missionaries in Liberia, 1820–1875
Eunjin Park
THE ORIGINS OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT, 1865–
1956
Aimin Zhang
RELIGIOSITY, COSMOLOGY, AND FOLKLORE
The African Influence in the Novels of Toni Morrison
Therese E.Higgins
SOMETHING BETTER FOR OUR CHILDREN
Black Organizing in Chicago Public Schools, 1963–1971
Dionne Danns
TEACH THE NATION
Public School, Racial Uplift, and Women’s Writing in the 1890s
Anne-Elizabeth Murdy
THE ART OF THE BLACK ESSAY
From Meditation to Transcendence
Cheryl B.Butler
Emerging Afrikan Survivals An Afrocentric Critical Theory
Kamau Kemayó
SLAVERY IN THE CHEROKEE NATION
The Keetoowah Society and the Defining of a People, 1855–1867
Patrick N.Minges
TROUBLING BEGINNINGS
Trans(per)forming African American History and Identity
Maurice E.Stevens
THE SOCIAL TEACHINGS OF THE PROGRESSIVE NATIONAL BAPTIST
CONVENTION, INC., SINCE 1961
A Critical Analysis of the Least, the Lost, and the Left-out
Albert A.Avant, Jr.
GIVING A VOICE TO THE VOICELESS
Four Pioneering Black Women Journalists
Jinx Coleman Broussard
CONSTRUCTING BELONGING
Class, Race, and Harlem’s Professional Workers
Sabiyha Prince
CONTESTING THE TERRAIN OF
THE IVORY TOWER
Spiritual Leadership of African-American Women in
the Academy
Rochelle Garner

Routledge
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Published in 2004 by Routledge 29 West 35th Street New York, NY 10001
http://www.routledge-ny.com/
Published in Great Britain by Routledge 11 New Fetter Lane London EC4P 4EE
http://www.routledge.co.uk/
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Garner, Rochelle. Contesting the terrain of the ivory tower : spiritual leadership of African-
American women in the academy / Rochelle Garner. p. cm.—(Studies in African American
history and culture) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0-415-94798-7
(Hardcover : alk. paper) 1. African American women college administrators—Case studies. 2.
Educational leadership—Case studies. 3. Spiritual life—Case studies. I. Title. II. Series: Studies in
African American history and culture. LB2341.G29 2003 2003015083
ISBN 0-203-46379-X Master e-book ISBN
ISBN 0-203-47177-6 (Adobe e-Reader Format)
ISBN 0-415-94798-7 (Print Edition)
Dedication

To my Ancestral Spirit: my late grandmother, Lydia Alline Smith Hayden, for inspiring
me to develop a thirst for education. For the foundation and love you gave me, it’s all
because of you that I am Who I am, and Whose I am.
To the Spirit that lives: my son, Jerusa Amar Garner-Simmons, for inspiring me to push
beyond boundaries as a parent and African-American woman. Your energy and six-year-
old wisdom brings me great joy and inspiration to be the “bestest” mom for you. Thank
you for the many teaching/learning moments we have shared together. You are truly a
blessing from God. Because of you, I am Who I am.
Contents

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS viii
SETTING THE CONTEXT x

CHAPTER 1 When and Where We Enter the Academy: Telling (Her) Story 3
CHAPTER 2 Surveying the Literature 20
CHAPTER 3 Methodology 32
CHAPTER 4 Flat-Footed Truths: Telling Black Women’s Lives 40
CHAPTER 5 The Soul of My Sisters: Talkin’ and Testifyin’ 55
CHAPTER 6 Still Lifting as We Climb 69
CHAPTER 7 Our Spiritual Strivings 82

APPENDIX A LETTER 89
NOTES 92
BIBLIOGRAPHY 100
INDEX 104
Acknowledgments

FIRST, I GIVE THANKS AND HONOR TO GOD FOR GIVING ME THE
STRENGTH, courage, and wisdom to endure this journey. It is all because of you that I
live, Lord. Only you know the trials and tribulations I have encountered personally,
physically, and academically. I know that it was only your “Footprints” that carried me
throughout this journey.
I would like to thank the wonderful women in this study for being patient with me, and
allowing me the opportunity to enter into their lives. Thank you for your words of
wisdom and encouragement throughout this process.
Then, to the wonderful women on my dissertation committee, I know that the way we
came together was a gift from God. I am forever grateful for your words of
encouragement, guidance, and support throughout my educational experience at Miami
University. Clearly, my research could not have been done without your guidance. Sally,
your willingness to allow your office to become “my” office has been a blessing. Judy,
our lunch meetings and girlfriend chats have also been a blessing, especially in an
environment that sometimes had a tendency to become quite chilly. Kathy, your
encouragement and pushing me to think about my research will never be forgotten.
Susan, our “kindred spirits” have been more than a blessing since the day we talked about
working together in the Dean’s office. Thanks for your words of encouragement,
mentoring, and pushing me beyond the boundaries to develop my own teaching and
research interests. Finally, Dr. Michael Dantley (my honorary committee member), I am
forever grateful for taking the extra time to work with me on my research, and pushing
me to the finish line.
Many people, family, friends, and acquaintances have assisted me and offered words
of encouragement and prayers along the way. I want to especially thank the Brown
family for their unconditional love, care, and sup- port for (adopting my family) walking
with me and encouraging me every step of the way. You truly have been a blessing to
me! Thank you so much Mother Brown for inspiring me to be “bold and courageous!”
I want to thank the Gillespies’, the Leonards’, and the Miringus’ for your care and
support in helping me with Jerusa while I was completing my research. I am forever
grateful.
Beatrice was always there with a cup of Kenyan tea whenever I needed to take a break
or just come together and talk about whatever was on my mind. Thanks for listening. You
are a wonderful woman, and I know our spirits will connect wherever we are in the
world. Thanks for your words of wisdom, support, and most of all being a “real” sistah
friend. My sister, Ramona, sent me tons of e-mails with words of inspiration. I truly
appreciate your words of encouragement and prayers throughout this journey. Even when
things got tough, you brought me back to life with a good laugh. Laughter creates smiles,
and smiles warm the heart…thanks so much for your love and care. My sister friend
Karen Byrd, a true prayer warrior, always offered words of encouragement and “kept me
lifted up!” Thanks so much for your love and sisterhood. Dianne and Dorothy, thanks for
your support from the beginning to the end. I truly appreciate our many conversations
and sisterhood we have shared along the way. Denise and I worked together as research
buddies. We met regularly to discuss our research, set goals, and kept each other focused
on our work. Your friendship and support goes unmeasured. I am glad our Women’s
Studies course brought us together four years ago. Denise, Regina, and Selena allowed
me to “break loose” and let my drama flow whenever I needed to talk and have a
listening ear. Thanks for allowing me to have one of those “front row” seats in your lives.
Finally, I must thank my friends and extended family in Lexington, Kentucky, and on
the East Coast. Thanks for your cards, phone calls, and e-mails encouraging me to keep
my eyes on the prize!