Abstract
In this article, Dr. Tatiana C. Parker examines the transformative potential of social capital brokering within the higher education system, particularly for communities that have been systematically excluded through opportunity hoarding and network closures both historically and presently. Institutions of learning have long served as sites for the transmission of instrumental (tangible) and expressive (emotional) social capital returns. Yet, the same system that has supported mobility is now under attack through the divestment of education, ideological resistance, and the longstanding disenfranchisement of educators of color.
Drawing on her research regarding Black women and upward mobility, she asserts that when educators, mentors, and decision-makers act as brokers who share the influence they do have, new pathways to mobility are unlocked. Grounded in Lin’s network theory of social capital, the article positions brokering not only as a means of enhancing the well-being of students and faculty but also as a vital strategy of resistance and resilience within the institution in light of ongoing internal and external threats.
Parker outlines the roles of bonding, bridging, and linking capital, and presents actionable strategies for institutions to treat social capital as a core strategy for both power and protection. Ultimately, she calls on all embedded within social capital–generative spaces, especially Black and brown women in education, to recognize their dual role in navigating systems not built for them while also shaping new ones for the individuals in their care.
Recommended Citation
Parker, Tatiana C.
(2025)
"The Paradox of the Broker: Why Educators of Color Must Be Supported, Not Just Celebrated,"
Gatherings: Vol. 2:
Iss.
1, Article 19.
Available at:
https://fisherpub.sjf.edu/gatherings/vol2/iss1/19
Additional Files
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Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Commons, Other Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons