THE ROLE OF TUSKEGEE INSTITUTE IN THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A HIGHER EDUCATION PIPELINE FOR BLACK STUDENTS: THE CASE OF SNOW HILL INSTITUTE

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to understand the role of collegiate Black women in the establishment and development of rural industrial education in the post-Civil War and segregated south. Black women’s voices and experiences have generally been excluded from the narrative of Black education and thus excluded from the larger conversation on Black education progression. This study, therefore, focused on Black women in this process. This study was important because it presented an examination of Black women’s experiences in rural industrial education, while attempting to chronicle the rich history of Snow Hill Institute. The institute served as a continuum toward the establishment of a higher education pipeline for African American students. An historical analysis approach was used in this qualitative study, with effort focused on the case study technique. Participants were invited to participate in the study if they met at least one of five criteria. Seven African American women ranging in age from 48 to 92 were selected to be interviewed. Using semi-structured interview questions, participants were asked about their experiences in rural industrial education institutions. Analysis of collected data revealed three emergent themes: (a) the influence of women at Snow Hill, (b) close family ties visible throughout the school’s history, and (c) the higher education pipeline for Black students. Findings of the study showed that the presence of Black women in rural industrial education helped to create and develop the higher education pipeline continuum for Black students, which necessitated the growth and expansion of historically Black colleges and universities. Implications to higher education suggest that administrative leaders of institutions of higher learning, particularly those institutions that seek to recruit African American students and other students of color, might find it useful to hire African American women in leadership positions in order to improve recruitment and retention outcomes of minority students, faculty, and staff.