Few Black women are tenured faculty in academia, and the statistics
are quite stunning. The Almanac of the Chronicle of Higher
Education (2004–2005) shows that, in
2001, 1% of all faculty at the rank of professor were Black
females—only 5% of all females at that rank. The numbers are only
slightly better for the rank of associate professor, the only other rank
where one is likely to be tenured. Of all faculty at the associate
professor level, only 2% are Black women; among women at that rank, only
6% are Black. Of assistant professors, 3% are Black females (7.5% of all
female faculty at that rank); Black females comprise 8% of female
instructors (4% of all faculty at that rank); and 3% of lecturers (5% of
all female lecturers).