Debunking the Grit Narrative in Higher Education

Debunking the Grit Narrative in Higher Education examines pressing structural issues currently impacting African American, Asian American, Pacific Islander, Latinx, and Native American students accessing college and succeeding in U.S. postsecondary environments. Drawing from asset-based work of critical race education scholars such as Yosso, Ladson-Billings, and contributing author Solórzano, the authors interrogate how systems and structures shape definitions of academic merit and grit, how these systems constrain opportunities to attain access and equitable educational outcomes, and challenge widely held beliefs that Students of Color need grit to succeed in college. Dominant narratives of educational success and failure tend to focus mostly on individual student effort. Contributing authors explore the myriad ways that institutional structures can support Students of Color utilizing their strengths through critical perspectives, asset-based, anti-deficit perspectives to access postsecondary environments and experience success. Scholars, scholar-practitioners, students affairs professionals, and educational leaders will benefit from this timely edited book as they work to transform postsecondary institutions into entities that meet the needs of Students and Communities of Color.

Angela M. Locks is Executive Director for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for Academic Affairs and Professor of Educational Leadership and Student Development in Higher Education at California State University, Long Beach, USA.

Rocío Mendoza is Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership and Higher Education at the University of Redlands, USA.

Deborah Faye Carter is Associate Professor of Higher Education at Claremont Graduate University, USA.