Date of Award

4-28-2026

Access Restriction

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctorate in Education

Department

Education

School or College

School of Education

First Advisor

Manuel Ponce

Second Advisor

Cynthia Alcantar

Third Advisor

Geneva Matthews

Abstract

Achieving Black Excellence has been a goal for African American men for several decades; yet this movement has been hindered by social, emotional, and discriminatory life experiences from early childhood through adulthood. Black Excellence has been a phrase used in recent years to highlight achievements for African American men in wealth, mental health, well-being, fatherhood, and academic achievement. The main objective of this dissertation was to define and examine dimensions of Black Excellence among African American men, including elements that contributed to personal fulfillment and broader social impact. To determine recommendations to achieve Black Excellence (Scott, 2017), 10 semistructured interviews were conducted with African American men employed in various fields to investigate which elements of their upbringing and current life experiences contributed to their evidence of Black Excellence. Using critical race theory (Crenshaw, 2011), the study found six key themes that contributed to African American men achieving Black Excellence: mentorship, leadership, perseverance through White nationalism, legacy and impact, cultural responsiveness, and support systems.

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