Student Affairs NOW Reciprocity Required: Relationships Between Black and White Women in Higher Education
Jun 4, 2025
Join scholars Christina Holmgren, Leah Fulton, and Jayne Sommers as they navigate the complex relationships between Black and white women in higher education. They discuss the challenges of trust-building, the impact of misogynoir, and the importance of self-reflection for effective allyship. Personal experiences reveal the dynamics of feminism, power imbalances, and the role of faith in promoting social justice. Their insights advocate for a new model of reciprocity that fosters genuine connections and collective growth in academia.
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Unwanted Help Highlights Boundaries
- During the George Floyd protests, many unknown white women offered help to Black women, which felt uncomfortable and invasive.
- These offers included money and babysitting, highlighting how white women often misunderstand boundaries early in relationships.
Historical Context Shapes Trust
- Black women bring a historical context to every interaction with white women, unlike white women who often show up assuming a fresh start.
- This disconnect causes exhaustion and mistrust, as Black women expect recognition of past harms in new relationships.
Assumed Trust and Boundaries Misunderstood
- White women often assume trust too quickly and ignore Black women's boundaries, including physical ones like touching hair without consent.
- Black women typically are not seeking friendship with white women, challenging common white women's relational expectations.