From the Editor: Introduction to Special Issue

Abstract

Whereas her white undergraduate students presumed she was not smart enough to be an instructor, the graduate director of her program decided she was so effective in the classroom that she did not need a nonteaching assistantship for funding as she wrote her thesis [ ]for many graduate students of color, being "special" has meant they have the drive to overcome any obstacles posed by their academic, cultural, and economic backgrounds to gain admission, but they do not also have enough preparation, resources, or support from departments to progress within their programs The special issue is a collective labor of love for the journal's editors to "lift as we climb " [ ]Crosstalk" is a public forum for graduate students of color to share ideas, affirmation, and guidance with each other as well as provide feedback to the journal's other readers, including college and university faculty, administrators, and staff All offer invaluable lessons lived and learned for perseverance, survival, thriving, and success Because Women, Gender, and Families of Color realizes this special issue is a rare opportunity for graduate students of color to be acknowledged holistically, we are also publishing additional essays on our website, https://wgfc ku edu/