The commodification of men of color initiatives: community colleges directors’ experiences with non-performative commitment

Abstract

AbstractProgram directors at community colleges must navigate institutional rhetoric to effectively support Men of Color. This study considers how administrators often exhibit a non-performative commitment to diversity, in that stated commitment might not equate to action. Utilizing a framework grounded in critical race theory and cognitive frames regarding diversity, deficit, and equity, the authors of the study interviewed directors of men of color programs to explore their administrators’ commitments to support the work. They also explored the ways that diversity rhetoric affected the success of their programs. Findings revealed that rhetoric often took the place of tangible action, that diversity rhetoric might contradict directors’ experiences, and that directors regularly acted as commodities to do the work of diversity with little support. Through this research, the authors offer several implications related to the need for more explicit institution-wide practices that center on equity-mindedness and move past generic frames about diversity.Keywords: Community collegescritical race theorydiversityequitymen of colorprogramming Disclosure statementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.Notes1 We will refer to these as “programs” throughout the remainder of the paper. We reiterate that for this paper the word “programs” focuses specifically on initiatives created for Men of Color in the community college setting.