When I Cry, You Cry--We Cry Together: The Intersectional Nature of Subalternity in Higher Education

In 2022, Parker et al. published a special issue in Research Issues in Contemporary Education with the intention of curating manuscripts addressing marginalization in higher education. Within the framework of Subalternity/Subaltern Studies, the current study employs a Postcolonial Critical Discourse Analysis methodology to investigate the intersectional nature of the 11 included manuscripts, thereby advancing the special issue. Findings highlight recurring themes including individual experiences, the need for theory to inform practice, and a focus on classroom dynamics. Additionally, within each manuscript numerous key terms are referred to relating to diversity, racism, and Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Last, from the findings, Black Women are prominently identified as subaltern within higher education and victims of the power dynamics at play.