‘The heaviest thing for me is being seen as aggressive’: the adverse impact of racial microaggressions on Black male undergraduates’ mental health

Abstract

ABSTRACT This phenomenological study explores Black male students’ lived experiences with racial microaggressions and the subsequent perceptions of their mental health while attending a predominately white institution (PWI). Data is collected through a focus group and semi-structured in-depth interviews with 15 Black male participants from a northeastern public university. The mendacity of systemic racism in juxtaposition to the intersectional identities of Black male students is analyzed from a Critical Race Theory framework. With the findings, I bring attention to Black masculinity and argue that daily encounters with microaggressions impact the mental health of Black male college students. Due to the construct of gendered racism, I argue for culturally responsive mental health care to support the emotional health and well-being of Black male scholars at PWIs. The objective of this article is to recognize the resilience and vulnerabilities of Black men while honoring their voices as they persist to pursue academic excellence.