"It's a Battle You See"

Studying the self-esteem of African American college students attending Predominantly White Institutions (PWIs) helps us understand how African American students function in situations when their minority status is pronounced. A small number of African Americans enroll in colleges and universities, with a smaller, yet rising percentage attending PWIs (U.S. Census Bureau, 2012). This study examines the self-esteem of the small population of African American students who attend a PWI. Tinto's Theory of Student Departure and Uncertainty Reduction Theory provided a framework for the study. A survey was distributed to identify levels of self-esteem of these students, examine group membership and its relation to self-esteem, and analyze positive and negative experiences while attending a PWI. A total of 68 African American students across 22 universities participated in the study. The findings indicate self-esteem was slightly higher than normal and esteem did not significantly differ by group membership. A content analysis of responses identified 14 themes present in the experiences that update and add to our understanding of the African American experience in a PWI.