COSPLAYING AS A PHD: WHY CHEYENNE BRYANT'S REFUSAL TO SHOW PROOF HARMS EVERY BLACK WOMAN SCHOLAR

I need to talk about Cheyenne Bryant. And I need to be very clear about why I'm talking about her.This is not about jealousy. This is not about tearing down another Black woman. This is not about being divisive.This is about accountability. This is about protecting the integrity of Black women scholars. This is about refusing to let someone cosplay as a PhD holder when Black women like me are spending years of our lives, tens of thousands of dollars, and countless hours of labor to earn that credential.Cheyenne Bryant claims to have a doctorate. She goes by "Dr. Cheyenne Bryant" on her website and social media. She positions herself as an expert, a life coach, a motivational speaker.But when people asked her to provide proof of her credentials, she said she went to Argosy University, a university that closed in 2019. She said she couldn't get her transcripts because the university is closed.And then other Argosy University graduates came forward and said: "That's not true. We got our transcripts."Cheyenne Bryant has not provided a diploma. She has not provided her dissertation topic. She has not provided pictures from graduation. She has not provided any verifiable proof of her doctorate.And when people continued to ask questions, she went on The Breakfast Club and said people are "jealous of her."This is not jealousy. This is accountability.