Voices Unveiled: Intergenerational Narratives of Black Women in Housing

THE PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCES OF BLACK WOMEN in college and university housing and residence life reflect a deep entanglement of race, gender, labor, and institutional dynamics. While their contributions to the field are significant, their stories are often marginalized or rendered invisible within dominant narratives of leadership and student affairs. Framed by Black feminist thought and grounded in narrative literary analysis, this article explores the intergenerational strategies Black women employ to navigate the professional and emotional demands of this work. Drawing from published reflections, scholarly literature, and personal essays, this study identifies recurring themes that highlight the resilience and resistance of Black women and how they make meaning of their work. By weaving together critical theory, literary interpretation, and lived reflection, this article offers new insight into the cultural labor of Black women in housing. It calls for practitioners and institutions to recognize these narrative strategies not just as coping mechanisms, but as radical acts of leadership, survival, and care. Through this work, we aim to honor the stories that too often go untold and offer a blueprint for building more affirming and equitable professional environments.