Double consciousness is the identity conflict of being Black and being an American (Du Bois, 1903). Double consciousness leads to "identity confusion and inherent contradictions in the collective psyche of people of African descent" (Benjamin, 2005, p. 21.). This study employed grounded theory to collect and analyze the data that emerged from the lived experiences of six African American Art historians employed at predominately White institutions. From this data, the researcher developed the theory of the "Black Core Operating System" (BCOS). The Black Core Operating System describes and explains how the Black identity of professors materializes within the confines of the Academy. The BCOS is comprised of four components or applications: "Communication", "Perspectives", "Research Decisions", and "Academic Persona". The BCOS illustrates how the Black academician is able to successfully navigate in academia despite the psychic duality they may experience at predominately White institutions. This study concludes with recommendations for practice that support higher education initiatives to produce and retain faculty of color. [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/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]