Black Girls Experiencing Their Intersectional Identities in School
Black Girls Experiencing Their Intersectional Identities in School explores the subjective experience of Black girls within the educational context. Based on interviews, diary entries, and focus groups, the author argues that as a result of their intersectional identities, Black girls experience unique challenges and obstacles in the educational setting. Addressing topics ranging from interpersonal relationships, social media, beauty, sexuality, hypervisibility/invisibility, and microaggressions, this book highlights the voices and experiences of Black girls between the ages of 11 and 15. The Girls provide a narrative account of the challenges they face daily in the educational context, describing in detail, the factors that maintain and perpetuate volatile conditions. Additionally, this book explores the coping strategies that this group of Black girls developed to resist and respond to the daily obstacles. Ultimately, this book not only identifies the unique struggles faced by Black girls in schools as a result of their intersectional identities; but most importantly, this work explores pragmatic strategies that can be implemented to create safe and beneficial spaces for Black Girls. The author argues that through the implementation of Black Feminist Pedagogy, an “Ethic of Caring,” and partnerships with Black Girl Empowerment organizations, educational practitioners can mediate the negative experiences and create spaces for growth.
Crystal L. Edwards is a visiting professor at the University of Houston.