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An Intergenerational Conversation of Black Women and Girls' Experiences in Predominantly White Independent Private Schools

Speaker: Devean R. Owens

Through the lens of Black Feminism, this preliminary project highlights the experiences of Black women and girls in predominantly white independent private schools. This paper details how participants engage in notions of Black Feminism and also investigates how they develop, negotiate and perform their identity in this setting. The study examines how Black women and girls navigate, cope and survive the daily trauma of oppression. Observations at an infant - 8th grade school as well as in-depth interviews were conducted and analyzed through the lenses of Black Feminism and Critical Race Theory. Black Feminism situates Black women at the forefront and seeks to assess how they take control of their experiences. Black Feminism and intersectionality allows for a gendered-racial analysis of participants’ self-perception as strategic and agentive in an environment that does not acknowledge or value their perspectives. It serves as a critical lens to evaluate how Black women and girls experience independent schools while also illuminating how they empower and encourage one another through the professional, academic, and social struggles. Findings show that Black women and girls’ relationships are paramount to their success within this school and work environment. CRT also allows for analytical dissection into the gendered-racial experiences participants have in these schools. This work critically analyzes the structures of race and power that are enacted in this particular school environment, offering a counter narrative that debunks mainstream assumptions. Their stories present essential information needed to understand their experiences as valid and distinct. Preliminary findings show that Black women and girls’ relationships are paramount to their success within this school and work environment.

This talk will take place at the 2018 Annual Meeting and Conference of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH). Learn more at https://asalh.org/conference/.

Past Events

An Intergenerational Conversation of Black Women and Girls' Experiences in Predominantly White Independent Private Schools

Speaker: Devean R. Owens

Through the lens of Black Feminism, this preliminary project highlights the experiences of Black women and girls in predominantly white independent private schools. This paper details how participants engage in notions of Black Feminism and also investigates how they develop, negotiate and perform their identity in this setting. The study examines how Black women and girls navigate, cope and survive the daily trauma of oppression. Observations at an infant - 8th grade school as well as in-depth interviews were conducted and analyzed through the lenses of Black Feminism and Critical Race Theory. Black Feminism situates Black women at the forefront and seeks to assess how they take control of their experiences. Black Feminism and intersectionality allows for a gendered-racial analysis of participants’ self-perception as strategic and agentive in an environment that does not acknowledge or value their perspectives. It serves as a critical lens to evaluate how Black women and girls experience independent schools while also illuminating how they empower and encourage one another through the professional, academic, and social struggles. Findings show that Black women and girls’ relationships are paramount to their success within this school and work environment. CRT also allows for analytical dissection into the gendered-racial experiences participants have in these schools. This work critically analyzes the structures of race and power that are enacted in this particular school environment, offering a counter narrative that debunks mainstream assumptions. Their stories present essential information needed to understand their experiences as valid and distinct. Preliminary findings show that Black women and girls’ relationships are paramount to their success within this school and work environment.

This talk will take place at the 2018 Annual Meeting and Conference of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH). Learn more at https://asalh.org/conference/.

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