Abstract
In nearly five years of teaching public speaking in higher education, I have encountered students from diverse backgrounds, highlighting the critical importance of public speaking skills and the disparities in individuals’ abilities to thrive in this area. Public speaking is a vital skill for job performance, educational pursuits, social relationships, confidence, leadership, and communication. Despite its importance, African American college students often face unique challenges that impact their confidence and self-esteem, including systemic racism, cultural stereotypes, and limited representation in academic settings. This study underscores the impact of public speaking skills on African American college students and addresses their unique societal challenges. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, including surveys and semi-structured interviews, this research examines how public speaking skills influence these students’ ability to overcome societal challenges and the role of systemic factors and self-efficacy in this process. The study highlights the need for culturally sensitive support mechanisms to bolster African American students’ confidence and academic self-concept, contributing to the broader discourse on educational equity and the importance of public speaking skills for personal and professional development.
Presenters
Roxanne LarkinsStudent, Ph. D Public Communication, Georgia State University, Georgia, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
Designing Social Transformations
KEYWORDS
Public Speaking, African American Students, Confidence, Self-Esteem, Systemic Racism, Cultural
