Category: Essays
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How to Know You’re Ready for Doctoral Study
Practical, identity-centered, aligned with Episode 2 People often ask, “How do I know if I’m ready for a doctoral program?” They expect a checklist. A GPA requirement. A list of prerequisites. A set of academic milestones. But readiness for doctoral study is not primarily academic — it’s identity work. Here’s what readiness actually looks like: 1.…
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What the Writing Room Means for Black Scholars
Community-centered, atmospheric, vision-driven “What the Writing Room Means for Black Scholars” (Community-centered, atmospheric, vision-driven) There’s something sacred about a room full of Black scholars. Not the kind of room where you’re the only one. Not the kind of room where you feel the need to translate yourself. Not the kind of room where your presence…
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The Moment I Realized I Was Becoming a Scholar
Personal narrative, intimate, story-driven I didn’t grow up imagining myself as a scholar. I didn’t grow up seeing doctoral degrees hanging on the wall. This Substack is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. I didn’t grow up with a roadmap for higher education, a family…
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“Becoming Before Belonging”
Identity-centered, reflective, foundational There’s a moment in every scholar’s journey when the work stops being about assignments, deadlines, or degree plans — and becomes about identity. Not the identity you perform for institutions, but the identity you carry into them. For Black scholars, this moment often arrives quietly. Sometimes in the middle of a late-night writing…
