COMMENTARY: Haitian Excellence: A Black Female Trailblazer

By: Christiana Best-Giacomini, Ph.D.

January 10, 2023

Recently, Harvard University appointed Dr. Claudine Gay as its 30th president.  My first reaction was excitement; then after a bit of research, I learned more impressive details about this trailblazer.  A quick review informs us that Dr. Gay not only successfully completes her academic degrees in higher education but this high achiever does it with additional accolades. In addition to earning a bachelor’s degree at Stanford University, she also received the Anna Laura Myers Prize for best senior thesis. Similarly, her Ph.D. from Harvard University resulted in the Toppan Prize for the best dissertation in political science.  

Over the years, Dr. Gay’s excellence included leadership roles in higher education and beyond as a board member of the Pew Research Center, Phillips Exeter Academy, and the American

Academy of Political and Social Science, as well as a member of the Association of American Universities’ advisory board on racial equity in higher education – which is of great achievement. Give this woman her props.

While Dr. Gay is a trailblazer, she is not alone. She is joining the ranks of a few African Americans recently selected to lead predominantly white institutions (PWI).  In 2020, there were six appointments – of which two are women, Lynn Wooten of Simmons University and Lori White of DePauw University.  In 2021, there were five additional African Americans appointed as president, with only one woman, Laurie A. Carter at Lawrence University.   

As I celebrate Dr. Gay’s appointment, as well as the leadership achievements of women and people of color in academia, a view from the balcony shows a very different picture.  A recent study by TIAA Institute The Women’s Power Gap Initiative found that while women earn 55% of PhDs, only 22% are appointed as presidents; women of color earn 19% of PhDs and account for just 5% of presidents.  Women of color are also underrepresented in all leadership positions in higher education.  The report further explains that post-civil rights, women outnumbered men in college attendance, while women of color have become the fastest-growing college population in the United States.  Even still, the disparities in leadership roles continue in PWIs throughout the academic pipeline. For example, the study above also reports that the career trajectory for men – particularly white men represent 61% of academic deans, 62% of provosts, and 78% of presidents.  At the same time, women represent 39% of academic deans, 38% of provosts, and 22% of presidents. Presently, white women continue to confront the glass ceiling; people of color face a concrete ceiling; and women of color – particularly Black women have the “broken ladder” syndrome.  This is why Dr. Gay’s new appointment is such a big deal because she represents the few who have successfully navigated both the concrete ceiling and broken ladder of inequity as a member of two marginalized groups. 

Another significant part of Dr. Gay’s identity is that of second-generation in a Haitian immigrant family.  For many immigrants from the Caribbean like me, her appointment is momentous.  Let’s face it, black immigrants are often invisible to the public, yet they face disparities when compared to other immigrant groups. Haitian immigrants have historically been marginalized as a group by the American government.  In 2021, we saw images of border patrol agents on horseback beating Haitian asylum-seekers and corralling them back to Mexico, where 14,000 of them camped under the Del Rio bridge, which was reminiscent of slave patrols.

Moreover, the American government has historically treated Haitian migrants differently from other migrant groups with high rates of deportations, longer detentions, and making it harder for them to settle in the U.S. safely.  Many believe that Haitians are targeted because of The Haitian Revolution of 1804, which was led by Toussaint Louverture. The revolution ended with the Haitian people (an enslaved population), defeating Napoleon’s army, winning their independence, and creating the first Black-led Republic. This revolt contributed to the end of slavery throughout the world and turned the global economic system upside down.  The Haitian people’s epic accomplishment posed a threat to the world order, and Haiti was isolated and not recognized by some of the world powers, including the United States for many years. In the subsequent 122 years, Haiti was forced to pay reparations to French slaveholders and their descendants in the amount of  $30 billion in today’s dollars.

In addition to paying an extravagant financial and physical price to end slavery, Haitians have had to deal with an extraordinary number of natural disasters that under any other circumstances, America would easily provide refuge, but the Haitian people are among the last to get compassion from the Group of Seven (G7). So, Dr. Gay’s achievement as the 30th president of Harvard is noteworthy to many people – Haitians, Black people globally, Black immigrants in America, West Indians, and women. 

Dr Christiana Best is a Assistant Professor at the University of Saint Joseph, Connecticut

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5 thoughts on “COMMENTARY: Haitian Excellence: A Black Female Trailblazer

  1. Thank you for lifting the leadership that is too often left out of headlines. The resources and information you share in this article is eye opening and should move us all into the work of achieving racial equity.
    Thank you for your scholarship and covering issues often overlooked.
    Respectfully

  2. Dear Christiana, many thanks for such an informative and well written article. While there is much to celebrate regarding Dr. Gay’s recent appointment to a PWI, it is clear yes, that women and in particular, black women continue to be at the bottom of the climbing ladder. Indeed Dr. Gay is a trailblazer in her own rights, and we celebrate too the fact that she is of Haitian Caribbean roots as described in the article. Noting that recent info from Payscale.com also made mention of the wage disparity regarding black women – Pay gaps widen for Black women as they advance in their careers. They are reportedly paid less regardless of having the same level of experience as white men, and even when performing the same jobs. As we make strides, the Oppressiveisms (TM) indeed continue to be part of daily life. Hence, the struggle for equality also continues. Many thanks!

  3. Thank you for this wonderful profile of Dr. Gay. And thank you for uplifting her Haitian heritage!

  4. Many thanks for such an informative and well written article. While there is much to celebrate regarding Dr. Gay’s recent appointment to a PWI, it is clear that women and in particular, black women continue to be at the bottom of the climbing ladder. Indeed Dr. Gay is a trailblazer in her own rights, and we celebrate too, the fact that she is of Haitian Caribbean roots as described in the article. Noting that a recent study from Payscale.com made mention of the wage disparity of black women – Pay gaps widen for Black women as they advance in their careers. They are reportedly paid less regardless of having the same level of experience as white men, and even when performing the same jobs. The reality of the Oppressiveisms (™) continue to impact the fabric of many lives. Hence, the struggle for equality including racial equity must persist. Many thanks.

  5. Dr. Best,
    This was beautifully written. Very informative and greatly needed. Thank you much for your persistent effort to educate individuals and communities. With education we have power, and with power, we can change these inequalities; therefore, I’m forever grateful for you empowering us all.

    Respectfully,
    Latisha D.

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