BLACK STUDENTS EXPLORE ONLINE COMMUNITIES - T. DAISY HOFFMAN

Despite the fact that a large amount of college student interaction now takes place online,the role social media platforms play in perceptions of racial issues, campus racial climate, and the navigation strategies of Black college students has not been a major consideration in higher education research. Social media is undeniably a significant part of our society. There are now certain social media platforms that are viewed as substantial social, cultural, and political aspects of the lives of its users (Lee-Won et al., 2018). Black social networks, specifically, can serve as necessary tools that aid in the perseverance of Black people who are immersed in predominantly White environments as they are able to use these spaces to communicate their racialized experiences, provide empathy to others, celebrate the successes of one another, find validation and community, and bond over shared memories.