“My Parents Did Not Play About School”: Examining the College Preparation Process Between Black Women and Their Parents During High School

It is important to consider the cultural and community assets that influence Black girls’ intentions to pursue higher education, such as parental messages on degree attainment and college success. The present qualitative study explored how high-achieving Black women perceived and internalized the college preparation socialization they received from parents during high school. We analyzed interview data from 50 Black undergraduate women (18–24 years) attending predominantly white institutions, and considered the role of parents’ educational attainment on the messages they provided to their daughters. We identified five themes, including: (1) expectations of college major and future occupation, (2) pressure to succeed academically, (3) gaps in parental knowledge about college admissions, (4) affirming daughters’ ambition about educational attainment, and (5) high school choice to maximize college admissions opportunity. The findings demonstrate how many parents’ college preparation socialization served as a source of cultural capital. Parents’ messages laid the groundwork for their daughters to see higher education as a future possibility, and many parents provided instrumental support during the college admissions process. Our study adds to the limited research on social class diversity and educational access among Black populations in the U.S. Authors discuss how high school educators can better support Black female learners.