This research study aimed to understand how depictions of Black women on television influence the ways Black women at PWIs make meaning of their multiple identities and self-definitions. Black Feminist Thought was used as the epistemology to inform the research questions. The research questions that guided this study were (1) How do Black college women make meaning of the portrayals of Black women on television? (2) In turn, how do Black college women link their interpretations of the portrayals of Black women on television with their own meaning making and self-defintion? The methodology used in this study consisted of three focus groups, an identity board activity, and an interview to serve as the member check-in. The literature review and results of this study found connections between television and Black college women meaning making. Such that several themes were found, which included: always the strong character: Black women need support too, cliche storylines: we want more dynamic portrayals, I am not my hair: mainstream beauty standards placed on Black women, not fitting into stereotypes: using black spaces to make meaning, show me the degree: you can't be as good as they say you are, and developing supportive friendships. Further, the identity board activity provided a visual mapping of the co-participants' meaning making concerning their self-perception. The study resulted in two outcomes: the co-participants demonstrated meaning making in the focus group meetings and identity board activity and formulated their self-definitions to counter controlling images used to define Black womanhood. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com.bibliotheek.ehb.be/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]