Book Review- Hooded: A Black Girl’s Guide to the Ph.D.
Hooded: A Black Girl’s Guide to the Ph.D. was the first title I started reading on my 2021 Reading List. The last semester of my master’s program was coming up fast, and I had already started thinking about Ph.D. programs months before. Until the end of my undergraduate career, I had no idea that students could apply straight into Ph.D. Programs. But by then, I had already decided that it was best to pursue a masters degree first, which allowed me to get a better idea on what I wanted to study.
Now that I *think* I’m finally ready to apply for Ph.D. programs, I knew I had to read this ASAP.
Why I picked it:
I wanted a first hand account of Ph.D. life as a Black woman and Dr. Grayson gave exactly that. Applying for any level of education requires insight from someone who has already been through it, and I just KNEW she would only have useful information to share since I already followed her on social media. Dr. Grayson is open with her followers, responds to so many people, and is overall just a fun person to follow online.
Do you know she also reviews personal statements for grad students in her spare time? I looked through my emails from 2018 and found our correspondence! She actually reviewed a draft of my personal statement for my master’s applications and provided some much appreciated feedback!
Favorite quotes:
- “ As you start your journey, remember one thing: by simply being in these rooms, we are advocates. We are accomplishing what we hope others will someday accomplish without the hardships we endured. Don’t just assimilate- TRANSFORM.” pg. 41
- “Too often we allow fear to lead us away from the things that we deserve.” pg. 69
- “Having your world and the way you live essentially centered around a single source is never a good thing. It’s especially not worth it to have it centered around what you deem as success.” pg. 140
Why you should read it:
Read it for her perspective. Dr. Grayson shares her experiences as the only Black woman in her mechanical engineering Ph.D. program, the persistence it took to finish the program, and the triumph that comes with reaching your end goal.
When talking to scholars who have made it to or through the “Ivy Tower,” they often describe how lonely and isolated they felt. But sometimes they don’t discuss in detail how the self-doubt, exhaustion, and lack of support has transformed who they are as a person and working professional.
The end of chapter workshops are good for people of all educational levels, and even for people who aren’t in academia at the moment. I feel like the questions are thought-provoking and necessary for growth in research disciplines and in workplaces outside of research.
Have I persuaded you to buy Hooded yet? If you do, you won’t regret it. You can get your own copy on Dr. Grayson’s website here.
