I had the privilege of having an American Council on Education Leadership Year Experience. It is called a fellowship, but I’m trying to move away from male-centered language, so I’m calling it a leadership year. The leadership year was an opportunity to step away from the beautiful, pristine, idyllic and predominantly White community of Blacksburg, Virginia in southwest Virginia and Virginia Tech and explore the experiences of other higher education institutions in the United States and globally, particularly the global south.
During the scholarship year and this summer, I visited Ethiopia, Benin, Senegal, India, South Africa, and Uganda. I also had a marvelous placement at the University of Minnesota with an amazing leader, Mercedes Ramírez Fernández, the Vice President for Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity at the University of Minnesota. We began work on a new digital project called, “Dear Higher Education: Letters from the Social Justice Mountain.” This digital project is soliciting letters from across the globe to higher education. Our first series will come out in September on the University of Minnesota Library Manifold digital platform. More soon on this.
The other intersecting dynamic is that my book, Blackwildgirl: A Writer’s Journey to Take Back Her Superpower, and companion journal, Finding Your Superpower, launched April 2, 2024. Distributed by Simon and Schuster, and published by She Writes Press, there is an e-book, print, and audio that I recorded. Learn more at www.menahpratt.com
Blackwildgirl is based on 45 years of journals that I have written since I was eight about the journey from Black girlhood to Black womanhood. I have shared Blackwildgirl through the amazing HERS organization at the virtual launch party while I was in South Africa. During the spring, I shared Blackwildgirl at Bennett College as a LiberateHerinResidence, at Bethune Cookman University, at Howard University, at Seattle University, at the University of California, and in my hometown at Illinois Wesleyan University and Illinois State University. This summer, I shared Blackwildgirl at The Free Black Woman’s Library in New York City; Bunch of Grapes Bookstore in Martha’s Vineyard, and Matter Bookstore in Denver. I learned amazing lessons about marketing and publicity, which I will share soon.
But for now, here are my lessons from the past year, inspired by the ACE Leadership Year. I’m pulling some lessons from a few articles I wrote during the year.
1. More of us must advocate for the world’s “Untouchables.”
In my blog post “Advocating for the World’s “Untouchables”: Lessons Learned from India”
I wrote:
“I have been reflecting on the concepts of who is untouchable in our societies. What does it mean to be untouchable? It is not only untouchable physically, but also socially, economically, politically, spiritually, psychically, and educationally. It is all the ways that we can dehumanize humanity and make them so different that they are not human.
What awakens our conscience?
Who is untouchable in our society?
How do we learn who is untouchable and why?
What are the roles of schools and education system in perpetuating or disrupting ideas of untouchability?
How can we disrupt ideas and ideologies about the “untouchables”?
The work of DEI, diversity, equity, and inclusion, allows us to understand our human differences across identities, but also recognize and learn ways of working towards community. In the world of DEI, no one is untouchable. This is why we need DEI practitioners and scholars more than ever.”
2. More of us should challenge the curriculum in higher education, and ask what it means to think about decolonizing education.
In my blog post, “Decolonizing education: Senegal Study-Abroad Reflections,” I reflected on decolonizing education:
“What does it mean to decolonize education?
I had a very interesting conversation on the Island of Shells in Joal-Fadiouth. A Senegalese male tour guide was talking about the culture of the fishing and farming village. The village was majority Christian, in contrast to the largely Muslim country. Throughout the village, there were iconographic statues and most of them had images of a White Jesus. In an all-black Senegalese African community, despite understanding the colonial history, I had thought, perhaps, the representation of Jesus would be different. When I asked the guide, he told me that the color doesn’t matter; only the message. I of course told him that the image matters, too. He repeated his assertation that only the message matters. We agreed to disagree. I did, however, see a more representative image which he did not show me, but I stumbled upon.
In reflecting about decolonizing education, I think that one of key questions is: What matters? Who gets to decide what matters? Who gets to decide what is taught by whom to whom?”
3. It is time for women warriors.
In my article, “It’s Time for Women Warriors in the World: Lessons from Africa about Life and Leadership”
I wrote about my experience in Benin and Ethiopia. In Benin, I was privileged to see the statute of Queen Tassi Hangbe of the Dahomey Dynasty.
Influenced by the ongoing conflict in Lalibela, Ethiopia, I wrote: “I have been thinking about conflicts, war against people and wars against the environment. And I have been struck by the overwhelming dominant presence of male voices in all walks of life. Men on the news; men talking about the conflict; men talking about religion; men talking about politics; men talking about education; men in government spaces; men in corporate spaces; men in military spaces; men in education spaces.
We need to talk to women and get more voices of women into conversations. We need the voice of mothers, of women who know what it means to carry babies on their backs, to carry loads on their heads; to nurse babies while working; to withstand the pain of childbirth; to cook; to clean; to work; and to love.”
Reflecting on the National Women’s Studies Association conference, I began to think more critically and challenge the concept of what is a woman, what is womanhood, what does it mean to be female, how do we understand gender, what does it mean to adopt a non-binary identity. When I reflect on the concept of non-binary, I see this as a discussion about “the third way,” a way that sits in the in-between, defies categorization, recognizes nuances, and understands the importance of distinctions.
I remember a conversation with a student in Senegal who described herself as a feminist. I asked for what her advice would be for women and girls: “Women should not underestimate themselves. I think a woman who is able to share, communicate, and advise children, mainly girls, is rather a social danger. And I think that we women should not silence ourselves. We should voice our mind and reveal our thoughts. I think we should not underestimate ourselves; we should be proud of ourselves; we should not be caring for a man; we should believe our dreams, and things will come true.”
This was such an inspirational statement, and I have never forgotten her words and perspective that an educated woman is often perceived as a social danger. The fear of women’s leadership was visible in my visit to Uganda, with as part of the amazing HERS-East Africa. HERS-EA (an affiliated organization of HERS network in the United States) plays a powerful role in helping over 200 women over the past 10 years develop leadership plans for their careers, and developing agreements with universities to support the advancement of women into leadership roles.
In Uganda universities, the issues of sexual harassment is very real. One painful example was a story of a woman who got her medical degree and 4 children. In some institutions, sexual harassment is very much a quid pro quo. You will not finish unless……
Patriarchy is alive and well. It is a powerful force orchestrating and impacting the experiences of women in many countries. In Uganda, one cultural aspect is cutting the hair of girls like boys, so but for a skirt, a girl is indistinguishable from a boy. I was told that it is a way for the men/fathers/society to control girls, dehumanize them from feeling feminine and beautiful. In many communities, women have been socialized into silence and submission culturally. Breaking this cultural norm is difficult and challenging, but it is happening.
There are senior male leaders, vice chancellors and professors who made statements like: “Who is going to marry these girls with PhD?”; “If they keep studying, when will they get married?” There are husbands who do not financially support their wives academic pursuits, yet women are persisting nevertheless. Women are becoming educated warriors, and women’s voices will continue to make a significant difference in the world.
In India, I visited three all-women’s colleges (Miranda House, Jesus and Mary College, and Lady Shri Ram College for Women) and one private university (Shiv Nadar Institution of Eminence). My conversations with women students and faculty profoundly influenced my thinking and understanding of challenges across the world for women and girls.
4. The world doesn’t change if we do nothing.
During my time in Senegal, I witnessed child abuse and shared it in my LinkedIn article on “Decolonizing education: Senegal Study-Abroad Reflections.” I wrote:
“One day in Dakar, I witnessed a woman, presumably a mother, literally beating her child into pulp. The slaps on the child’s body were so loud. Her shouting and yelling at the child were equally horrific, as were the child’s screams. The woman and the woman she was with walked away, leaving the child laying on the ground, writhing in pain, screaming and crying. I did not do anything but watch and hope that the child would be alright. My inaction and inability to speak the language and uncertainty left me feeling powerless and disappointed. I continue to reflect on this experience, and the number of times in our lives when we see injustice and do nothing.”
5. It is a VUCA higher education world.
At the very first ACE weeklong opening retreat, we were introduced to the acronym – VUCA.
And, higher education is truly unstable: from the leadership challenges, especially for women of color; to the economic fragility and unsustainable business model for education; to the lingering impacts of COVID on students and work culture; to declining enrollments; to the unclear role of AI; and to the attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion with Diversity Equity, and Inclusion offices being the ONLY administrative offices that are closing and being eliminated. Higher education is a fraught environment.
6. Knowledge and education are commodities that are regulated and controlled, often with limited access for the masses. In the United States, land-grant universities were created to address the lack of access to education for the lower-class White students, because education in 1860s-1870s was for the privileged, elite classes. Community colleges were also created to create more access, as were public regional universities. In other countries, there are still struggling to provide large-scale public education to its citizens. I had the honor of visiting three universities in South Africa with several ACE colleagues.
In South Africa I was struck by the inability of the masses of Black South Africans to access education. At the University of Cape Town, I learned that they received 100,000 applications for 4500 slots in the first year class. Their Office of Transformation is their DEI office. They are trying to address issues of equity, and the disparity in preparation based on identities and life circumstances. The Office of Transformation is thinking about systemic change, historical legacy, and “how to unleash human potential for a fair and just society.” They are also thinking about pedagogy, including a “pedagogy of discomfort.”
Likewise, the University of Johannesburg receives 600,000 applications for 10,000 seats. They, too, are looking at decolonizing the education and the Office of Transformation is focusing on Black economic empowerment, structural inequalities, and making institutions more representative of the country.
The challenge of access to knowledge was even more pronounced in Uganda, where k-12 education is not free, and many families cannot afford to educate their children. In addition for girls, pregnancy often hinders girls’ abilities to complete their education. An organization like the Center for Reproductive Rights, based in the refugee camp, works to support girls and to prevent childhood pregnancy.
7. Identity matters.
I wrote several blog posts during the year about the experiences of Black women, especially in education.
I wrote about the death of Dr. Antoinette Candia-Bailey.
I wrote about the deaths of President Joanne Epps, resident Orinthia Montague, who both passed away and also wrote about Claudine Gay in a blog post, “Simon Says, “Take Two Giant Steps Backward.”
I also wrote a blog post about Dr. Claudine Gay: “Dr. Claudine Gay: Let Us Not Allow Her To Be Erased”
Identity matters. Sadly, wonderful colleagues across the country, often Black, Brown, and queer, are out of jobs. After George Floyd’s murder, diversity almost became synonymous with Black Lives Matter, anti-racism, and anti-Black. As a result, there was more discussion about Whiteness and that was too much for many, and so book bans on critical race theory, on the 1619 Project, on LGBTQ issues, and on divisive concepts were implemented.
In India, caste, religion, and gender matter.
In Uganda and South Africa, there are Offices for Gender Mainstreaming.
Wealth matters. There is economic disparity and poverty across the world, yet there are enough global resources to support everyone with a meaningful quality of life.
We are not at a point globally to be identity blind.
7. We do not know how to talk across difference.
I was deeply humbled to visit a refugee camp in Uganda and to meet leadership of the refugee communities. I learned that in Uganda, there are 230,000 refugees, and 86% are women and children. A phrase I remember “men begin war, because they are hungry for power and leadership, and women and children suffer.”
Yet, the tribal conflicts that precipitated the refugee crisis between the Dinka and Nuer tribes in South Sudan, have continued into the refugee community, between women from different tribal communities saying: “the urine of two women cannot mix.” So, despite the reality that tribal violence led to the refugee status, the pull of culture is so strong, that even in the refugee camp, they are struggling with the impact of culture. The necessity of conflict resolution and trying to find ways for peace are so important globally.
8. History matters. As the director of HERS-South Africa, Brightness Mangolothi shared: “We cannot erase aspects of 400 years of slavery in 60 years.” I stood at the door of no-return in Senegal, and walked the slave route in Benin, and heard frequent references to the “young democracy” of South Africa, I felt the hegemonic force of history and injustice that has been embedded structurally within institutions and organizations and systems and structures. Standing at the door of no return in Senegal where Africans left for a journey across the ocean they could not have imagined, I could only reflect on all the obstacles so many in this life have had to overcome. It behooves us as a global community to understand history so we can address generational trauma from wars, enslavement, refugee status, environmental disaster, poverty, and basic human rights.
9. We have to look for “righteous brothers.”
Many African universities have offices of “Gender Mainstreaming.” These offices are focused on women’s empowerment, addressing sexual harassment, and promoting sexual reproductive health and rights.
Some of these offices are also looking into issues of manhood. They are exploring what it means to be a man, hosting male ally workshops and male forums to reconceptualize, unlearn, and discuss gender-based violence. They explore what it means for men to mentor women, but also how men should mentor boys. They are discussing how to prepare men to support and participate in the progress of women, wives, girls, female students, and daughters. They are exploring how men nurture their “family” identity and their “professional” identity.
HERS-EA leadership used this term often: righteous brothers. They shared that we have to recruit righteous brothers through conversation, data dissemination, and score cards. And they are out there. Not enough, but some. In Uganda, one deputy vice chancellor said: “women do a better job. There is less conflict, they pay attention to detail, and they often mother an institution. Men take their power for granted. Women deliver more.” He said, “I am not ashamed to say that women understand the mission. They need encouragement to not retreat and know that men have their backs, which is why formal policies help.”
HERS-EA emphasized that it is not about fixing women, but fixing institutions. HERS-EA helps women to formulate career plans, and also pushes institutions to review their policies and create more equitable environments for women to be able to succeed.
10. Change is possible. The co-founder of HERS-EA, Dr. Naomi Lumutenga shared: “If you think you are too small to make a difference, you have not been in a room with a mosquito. Think about how much of a nuisance it is. It only stops after it stings you. Be a mosquito.” Prof. Margaret Khaitsa, Chair of the Board and Dr. Lumutenga founded HERS-EA ten years ago. With only their passion and volunteers, they led this organization without funding until this year! Yet, they have single-handedly influenced women and organizations throughout East Africa. Change is possible. Each of us should do our part, no matter how little it appears.
Learn more about HERS below.
Higher Education Resource Services, East Africa (HERS-EA)
Like HERS, the Faculty Women of Color in the Academy (FWCA) National Conference is also making a difference for women.
https://www.inclusive.vt.edu/Programs/FWCA.html
For the past almost 13 years, the conference has impacted almost 5000 women, helping them to connect, support, and empower themselves and each other. Organizations like FWCA, HERS, and ACE are important structures trying to address inequities in higher education. I have been so honored to be connected to these organizations. In a few weeks, I will head back to South Africa to support HERS-South Africa under the leadership of the amazing and incredible Brightness Mangolothi.