This one-of-a-kind, “how-to” guide is designed to help Indigenous Students and Students of Color (ISOC) thrive in postsecondary education. It spotlights the personal and cultural capital ISOCs bring with them on their postsecondary educational journey. This book helps students identify, strengthen, and use these assets so that success in higher education is not only possible but inevitable. Written by faculty and administrators of color, from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences, this guide contains insider advice and strategies to help ISOCs successfully navigate the challenges they might face wherever their postsecondary journey takes them. Through stories and relatable vignettes that help readers envision themselves in the book, this easy-to-use, interactive resource includes features such as Professional Tips, Think Alone/Think Together discussion prompts, and skill-building end-of-chapter activities that help students to develop their assets and hone their skills. Designed to help ISOCs thrive in postsecondary education as their full authentic selves, this book is a guide that can be returned to at any point along one’s postsecondary journey.
Book Features:
Perspectives, ideas, and advice that address the unique experiences that Indigenous and Students of Color are likely to have in postsecondary institutions.
Written collaboratively by a diverse group of faculty and administrators of color representing a variety of academic disciplines including law, education, ethnic and women studies, and English.
A user-friendly format that students can easily navigate to address their needs as they plan and attend postsecondary education.
Appropriate for students attending or considering a variety of postsecondary options, including technical schools, community college, or a 4-year college or university.
Contents
Preface: Preparing for the Journey Ahead xiii
Why We Wrote This Book xiii
Acknowledgments xv
Prologue: Beginning Your Journey 1
1. Introduction: Taking Your Initial Steps 3
The Value of a Postsecondary Degree: Why You Should Read This Book 3
Educational Attainment for People of Color 4
Getting the Most From This Book 6
Terminology Around Race and Ethnicity 8
Other Terms of Note 12
2. An Assets-Based Approach: Thriving in Postsecondary Education 14
Introduction to an Assets-Based Approach 15
You Have Assets 16
Our Communities Have Wealth 17
A Note About Theory 19
Deficit-Oriented Versus Asset-Oriented Theories 21
Cultural Capital: An Assets-Based Approach 21
Community Cultural Wealth 24
Using Community Cultural Wealth to Organize This Book: An Overview of What’s to Come 27
3. Aspirational Capital: Pursuing Your Dreams 32
Introduction to Aspirational Capital 33
Exploring Aspirational Capital 33
Introduction to the Authors 35
Career Choices and Choosing a Major 44
Types of Colleges and Universities 45
Planning for Your Future by Choosing the Right Institution for You 48
Ready to Apply? 51
Pulling the Application Together 54
Financial Planning 55
End of Chapter Activity: Draft and Write the Application Essay 59
4. Cultural (and Ancestral) Capital: Being Your Authentic Self 60
Introduction to Cultural (and Ancestral) Capital 61
Exploring Cultural Capital 62
A Caution About Culture, Race, and Ethnicity 68
A Note About Intersectionality 69
Honoring Your Cultural Assets 70
Ancestral Capital 72
Identifying Your Cultural Assets 72
Your Cultural Capital: Pitfalls and Caveats 73
Understanding the Foundations of Racism 74
Strengthening Your Cultural and Ancestral Assets 79
End of Chapter Activity: Finding Your Cultural Assets 86
5. Linguistic Capital: Valuing Your Language(s) 88
Introduction to Linguistic Capital 89
Exploring Linguistic Capital 91
Your Linguistic Assets 95
Identifying Your Linguistic Assets 96
Your Linguistic Capital: Pitfalls and Caveats 97
Strengthening Your Linguistic Assets 101
End of Chapter Activity: Building Your Linguistic Assets 104
6. Familial and Social Capital: Walking the Path . . . Together 105
Introduction to Familial and Social Capital 107
Exploring Familial Capital 108
Exploring Social Capital 111
The Importance of Familial and Social Capital in Postsecondary Education Settings 114
Your Familial and Social Capital: Pitfalls and Caveats 117
Ideas for Strengthening and Effectively Using Familial and Social Capital 121
End of Chapter Activity: Recognizing and Strengthening Your Familial and Social Capital 125
7. Political and Resistance Capital: Speaking Truth to Power 128
Introduction to Political and Resistance Capital 129
Exploring Political Capital 130
Exploring Resistance Capital 132
Your Political and Resistance Capital: Pitfalls and Caveats 134
Strategies for Strengthening Your Political and Resistance Capital 135
End of Chapter Activity: Build Your Knowledge to Increase Your Power 139
8. Navigational Capital: Making the Strange Familiar 141
Introduction to Navigational Capital 142
Exploring Navigational Capital 143
Starting With the Basics 144
People You Will Most Likely Interact With at the University 146
What Does the Institution Do for ISOCs? 152
As Former ISOCs, What We Wish We Had Known When We Started College 156
Communicating With Professors 158
Other Important Sources of Navigational Capital 164
End of Chapter Activity: Reverse Navigating Your Dreams 166
9. Humanization Capital: Striving and Thriving 168
Introduction to Humanization Capital 169
Exploring Humanization Capital 170
Keys to Surviving: Using and Building Humanization Capital 172
Your Humanization Capital: Pitfalls and Caveats 174
Don’t Just Survive, Thrive 175
End of Chapter Activity: Create Your Proactive Wellness Plan 178
Conclusion: Putting It All Together—Honoring Your Assets 180
Our Parting Words 181
An Open Letter to Faculty, Staff, and Advisors on Supporting Indigenous Students and Students of Color 183
Glossary of Terms 187
References 193
Index 197
About the Authors 203
Height:229
Width:156
Spine:11
Weight:318.00