The Power of Black Love: Exploring Black Students' Sense of Belonging through the Lens of Romance

Authors

Presenter(s)

Kayla Jackson

Comments

11:00-12:00, LTC Forum

Files

Description

All humans desire some sort of connection, as we are social beings by nature. This study aims to better understand the relationship between Black students’ experiences in romantic relationships and their perceptions of belonging on campus. This is necessary, given that a student’s sense of belonging is crucial to their success in higher education. The study was conducted using confidential, semi-structured interviews of Black undergraduate students at the University of Dayton who have been in a relationship during their college years. Results show that Black students have mixed feelings about whether they feel that they belong on campus. Though relationships had less of an impact on campus events and involvement, they had a profound effect on social life. These findings paint a more detailed picture of an overlooked aspect of Black students’ experiences on UD’s campus.

Publication Date

4-23-2025

Project Designation

Capstone Project

Primary Advisor

Anya M. Galli Robertson

Primary Advisor's Department

Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work

Keywords

Stander Symposium, College of Arts and Sciences

Institutional Learning Goals

Diversity; Community

Recommended Citation

"The Power of Black Love: Exploring Black Students' Sense of Belonging through the Lens of Romance" (2025). Stander Symposium Projects. 4125.
https://ecommons.udayton.edu/stander_posters/4125