In this study, I examined ways in which Black undergraduate students perceive student success and how those perceptions are influenced by institutional power structures. In historically and predominantly white institutions, the structural conditions of anti-Blackness are endemic to the college experience and can influence how students perceive student success. I personally struggled to think outside of the normative, social construction of student success. This study helped me pursue a curious question as to whether Black undergraduate students had similar thoughts. In the face of anti-Blackness, Black undergraduate students must find ways to unapologetically express their understanding, knowledge, and perception of student success. Using action research methodology, I interviewed seven participants and conducted two focus groups. The findings of my research illustrated that Black students constantly need to negotiate and renegotiate how to acknowledge the dominant narrative of student success imposed upon them and use their counternarratives to center their voices as Black students. The key findings for this study were: (a) the power of student relationships with Black faculty, (b) the power of anti-Blackness as a barrier to achieving student success, (c) the power of community building and connection, and (d) the power of dominant narratives influencing definitions of student and institutional success. As a result of these findings, I offer four recommendations: (a) integrate families in the student experience of their academic journey, (b) create a first-year experience course specifically for Black students, (c) cultivate a new academic advising model that promotes normalizing the counternarrative of student success, and (d) introduce culturally relevant pedagogical approaches for faculty. [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.]