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'My Life's Light': Black College Women's Religious and Spiritual Responses to Racial Discrimination

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Title: 'My Life's Light': Black College Women's Religious and Spiritual Responses to Racial Discrimination
Language: English
Authors: Meredith O. Hope (ORCID 0000-0003-2963-5969), Seanna Leath, Laura E. Henschke, Alexandria C. Onuoha, Taina Quiles
Source: Journal of Diversity in Higher Education. 2026 19(2):159-176.
Availability: American Psychological Association. Journals Department, 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002. Tel: 800-374-2721; Tel: 202-336-5510; Fax: 202-336-5502; e-mail: order@apa.org; Web site: http://www.apa.org
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 18
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: African Americans, Females, Racism, Student Diversity, Predominantly White Institutions, Coping, Social Support Groups, Religion, Racial Discrimination, Psychological Patterns, Ethnicity, Metacognition, Reflection, Journal Writing
DOI: 10.1037/dhe0000646
ISSN: 1938-8926
1938-8934
Abstract: Spiritual concepts, such as forgiveness, hope, and joy, have long-standing roles in shaping Black individuals' responses to racial discrimination in the United States. However, within higher education scholarship, very few studies explore the multifaceted ways that college-attending Black women understand and cultivate these concepts during emerging adulthood, a developmental period characterized by identity exploration and preparation for adulthood roles. We used a constructivist and inductive content analysis approach to examine semistructured interview data from religiously and ethnically diverse 21 Black women (18-25 years old) attending predominantly White liberal arts colleges in the United States. We identified three broad themes and subthemes: (1) going inward (i.e., relying on internal and self-oriented processes), (2) going outward (i.e., relying on social support or external resources), and (3) going upward (i.e., relying on a higher power). Results indicate that Black women use a range of religious and spiritual practices to access hope, forgiveness, or joy in the context of racial discrimination. Findings may be of interest to student affairs professionals, researchers, and mental health clinicians who serve, study, and work alongside Black undergraduate women.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1506527
Database: ERIC
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  Data: 'My Life's Light': Black College Women's Religious and Spiritual Responses to Racial Discrimination
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Meredith+O%2E+Hope%22">Meredith O. Hope</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2963-5969">0000-0003-2963-5969</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Seanna+Leath%22">Seanna Leath</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Laura+E%2E+Henschke%22">Laura E. Henschke</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Alexandria+C%2E+Onuoha%22">Alexandria C. Onuoha</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Taina+Quiles%22">Taina Quiles</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Journal+of+Diversity+in+Higher+Education%22"><i>Journal of Diversity in Higher Education</i></searchLink>. 2026 19(2):159-176.
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  Data: American Psychological Association. Journals Department, 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002. Tel: 800-374-2721; Tel: 202-336-5510; Fax: 202-336-5502; e-mail: order@apa.org; Web site: http://www.apa.org
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  Data: 18
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22African+Americans%22">African Americans</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Females%22">Females</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Racism%22">Racism</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Diversity%22">Student Diversity</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Predominantly+White+Institutions%22">Predominantly White Institutions</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Coping%22">Coping</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+Support+Groups%22">Social Support Groups</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Religion%22">Religion</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Racial+Discrimination%22">Racial Discrimination</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Psychological+Patterns%22">Psychological Patterns</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Ethnicity%22">Ethnicity</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Metacognition%22">Metacognition</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Reflection%22">Reflection</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Journal+Writing%22">Journal Writing</searchLink>
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  Data: 10.1037/dhe0000646
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  Data: Spiritual concepts, such as forgiveness, hope, and joy, have long-standing roles in shaping Black individuals' responses to racial discrimination in the United States. However, within higher education scholarship, very few studies explore the multifaceted ways that college-attending Black women understand and cultivate these concepts during emerging adulthood, a developmental period characterized by identity exploration and preparation for adulthood roles. We used a constructivist and inductive content analysis approach to examine semistructured interview data from religiously and ethnically diverse 21 Black women (18-25 years old) attending predominantly White liberal arts colleges in the United States. We identified three broad themes and subthemes: (1) going inward (i.e., relying on internal and self-oriented processes), (2) going outward (i.e., relying on social support or external resources), and (3) going upward (i.e., relying on a higher power). Results indicate that Black women use a range of religious and spiritual practices to access hope, forgiveness, or joy in the context of racial discrimination. Findings may be of interest to student affairs professionals, researchers, and mental health clinicians who serve, study, and work alongside Black undergraduate women.
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      – Text: English
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        PageCount: 18
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      – SubjectFull: African Americans
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Females
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      – SubjectFull: Racism
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      – SubjectFull: Student Diversity
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      – SubjectFull: Predominantly White Institutions
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      – SubjectFull: Religion
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      – SubjectFull: Racial Discrimination
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      – SubjectFull: Psychological Patterns
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      – SubjectFull: Ethnicity
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      – TitleFull: 'My Life's Light': Black College Women's Religious and Spiritual Responses to Racial Discrimination
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