DOCSLIB.ORG

Exploring Critical Consciousness, Facilitating Black Liberation

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Exploring Critical Consciousness, Facilitating Black Liberation University of Kentucky UKnowledge Theses and Dissertations--Educational, School, Educational, School, and Counseling and Counseling Psychology Psychology 2018 EXPLORING CRITICAL CONSCIOUSNESS, FACILITATING BLACK LIBERATION Della V. Mosley University of Kentucky, [email protected] Author ORCID Identifier: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6404-6863 Digital Object Identifier: https://doi.org/10.13023/etd.2018.402 Right click to open a feedback form in a new tab to let us know how this document benefits ou.y Recommended Citation Mosley, Della V., "EXPLORING CRITICAL CONSCIOUSNESS, FACILITATING BLACK LIBERATION" (2018). Theses and Dissertations--Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology. 78. https://uknowledge.uky.edu/edp_etds/78 This Doctoral Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology at UKnowledge. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations--Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology by an authorized administrator of UKnowledge. For more information, please contact [email protected]. STUDENT AGREEMENT: I represent that my thesis or dissertation and abstract are my original work. Proper attribution has been given to all outside sources. I understand that I am solely responsible for obtaining any needed copyright permissions. I have obtained needed written permission statement(s) from the owner(s) of each third-party copyrighted matter to be included in my work, allowing electronic distribution (if such use is not permitted by the fair use doctrine) which will be submitted to UKnowledge as Additional File. I hereby grant to The University of Kentucky and its agents the irrevocable, non-exclusive, and royalty-free license to archive and make accessible my work in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. I agree that the document mentioned above may be made available immediately for worldwide access unless an embargo applies. I retain all other ownership rights to the copyright of my work. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of my work. I understand that I am free to register the copyright to my work. REVIEW, APPROVAL AND ACCEPTANCE The document mentioned above has been reviewed and accepted by the student’s advisor, on behalf of the advisory committee, and by the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS), on behalf of the program; we verify that this is the final, approved version of the student’s thesis including all changes required by the advisory committee. The undersigned agree to abide by the statements above. Della V. Mosley, Student Dr. Candice Hargons, Major Professor Dr. Michael Toland, Director of Graduate Studies EXPLORING CRITICAL CONSCIOUSNESS, FACILITATING BLACK LIBERATION DISSERTATION A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the College of Education at the University of Kentucky By Della V. Mosley Lexington, Kentucky Co-Directors: Candice Hargons, PhD, and Danelle Stevens-Watkins, PhD Lexington, Kentucky 2018 Copyright © Della V. Mosley 2018 ABSTRACT OF DISSERTATION EXPLORING CRITICAL CONSCIOUSNESS, FACILITATING BLACK LIBERATION The current study aimed to uncover processes and experiences that led individuals to critically engage in racial justice activism, specifically the Black Lives Matter movement. A constructivist grounded theory approach was utilized under critical-ideological and Black feminist paradigms in order to build a practical theory related to developing critical consciousness about oppression facing the Black community. Black activists in the movement between the ages of 23 and 60 (N=12) participated in intensive individual interviews. The result of the study is a co-constructed theory of racial justice activism development (the Critical Consciousness of Anti-Black Racism [CCABR] model) that can be used to increase psychopolitical wellness for Black people. In this model, developing CCABR started with witnessing ABR, required three interconnected methods of processing ABR to increase agency, and led to critical action against ABR. Results indicated that CCABR is a cyclical process through which each of the stages build upon and support one another. The CCABR model is discussed with respect to how it converges with, diverges from, and expands upon extant literature. Recommendations and implications associated with the CCABR model are delineated. KEYWORDS: Critical Consciousness, Racial Trauma, Anti-Black Racism, Activism, Black Lives Matter _________________________Della V. Mosley _________________________October 19, 2018 EXPLORING CRITICAL CONSCIOUSNESS, FACILITATING BLACK LIBERATION By Della V. Mosley _________________________Candice Hargons, PhD Co-Director of Dissertation Danelle_________________________ Stevens-Watkins, PhD Co-Director of Dissertation _________________________Michael Toland, PhD Director of Graduate Studies _________________________October 19, 2018 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS There are many people who contributed to my advancement to the stage of completing a dissertation and specifically to the completion this dissertation. My family, mentors, friends, and the community of Black racial justice activists and healers all were critical to the creation of this work. Expressing gratitude in this formal, written manner is difficult as I owe so much to these people and know that words cannot reflect the deep sense of appreciation I have for them. I humbly submit these acknowledgments, given this awareness of how insufficient they will be at expressing my true gratitude. First and foremost, I want to thank my family. My parents Daryl and Lettie Mosley, along with my brother Daryl Jr. and sister DaShanda, have been my base. They have provided stability, support, and encouragement throughout my educational journey. Their unwavering belief in me and my potential pushed me to always strive to do my best for self, family, community, and the good of society. My parents instilled a sense of hard work and helped me to value education early on. The privilege of growing up in a two- parent household, where I was “forced” to sit at the table with my siblings and do homework before I could think of doing anything else after school was critical to my getting to this stage. My dad always said, “You have to be willing to do today what others won’t do so you can have tomorrow what others won’t have.” While this may read as though it is about working hard to be better than others, my parents are people who worked hard in order to give to others. They accrued privilege and relinquished it over and over again. I am a product of that process, as they worked hard and poured so much emotional and financial support into me over the years. They passed that trait onto me, such that I worked really hard to accrue this educational privilege that I now strive to iii relinquish to help others in (and beyond) the Black community. This dissertation focused on Black liberation is one of my examples of that process. Thank you, Mom and Dad, for every college tour, “loan,” lecture, prayer, conference attendance, piece of presentation feedback, and for your unwavering commitment to my holistic wellness and academic success. My brother and sister have also been instrumental in getting me to the Ph.inishe.D line. Seeing my brother get his master’s degree pushed me to move toward my doctorate. He has supported me and believed in me and I am so grateful for the love and care I received from my friend and brother. I also have to acknowledge his daughter, my niece Mila. I wanted to give up many times on this journey but because I wanted to be a role model for her and because I had been telling her that her auntie was going to be a doctor, I would not quit. Thank you for motivating me, Mila. DaShanda should have an honorary Ph.D. for holding me down through this academic journey. Thank you for the many, many ways that you supported me over the years. You put your life on pause to come to Lexington and help me along my path. You gave me feedback on my work, helped me to practice self-care, and were the ultimate backhaver time and time (and time and time) again. Beyond this incredible core, my extended family has held me down. My squad of cousins, aunts and uncles, godfamily, and my grandmother Ma Rainy have been my motivation. As a whole, my family supported me as I moved away to pursue something that is personally meaningful but that we could all be proud of and I thank you for your sacrifices and support. I want to thank my dissertation committee for their guidance, advice, and support as I worked on this dissertation and doctorate. Dr. Candice Hargons, I extend my deep gratitude to you for teaching me how to conduct qualitative research from a Black iv feminist, social justice framework. Your mentorship on this and many other projects helped me to learn not only important methods, but how to apply them in a manner that honored the communities I care so deeply for and how to teach them to students in an engaging manner. Thank you for providing the opportunity to serve as your research assistant; learning from and collaborating with you has been a true gift. Dr. Stevens- Watkins, your mentorship throughout my doctoral journey was priceless. Semester after semester you selflessly poured your wisdom into me and helped me to hone my skills and identity as a culturally mindful counseling psychologist. No one has contributed more to my growth as a scientist-practitioner and clinician. Thank you for seeing me to the finish line with my dissertation. Dr. Chamara Kwakye exposed me to Black feminist theory, allowed me to witness her #Blackgirlgenius as she co-created Saving Our Lives, Hear Our Truths Lexington edition, and was an incredible role model to me throughout my time at UK. Thank you for your support. Dr. Alicia Fedewa, thank you for being a consistent, calming, and committed member of my mentorship team.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • “Charleston, Goddam”: an Editorial Introduction to ACT 14.2 Brent C
    Sunderman Conservatory of Music Faculty Sunderman Conservatory of Music Publications 8-2015 “Charleston, Goddam”: An Editorial Introduction to ACT 14.2 Brent C. Talbot Gettysburg College Follow this and additional works at: https://cupola.gettysburg.edu/consfacpub Part of the Curriculum and Social Inquiry Commons, and the Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education Commons Share feedback about the accessibility of this item. Talbot, Brent C. “'Charleston, Goddam': An Editorial Introduction to ACT 14.2." Action, Criticism, and Theory for Music Education 14.2 (August 2015), 1-24. This is the publisher's version of the work. This publication appears in Gettysburg College's institutional repository by permission of the copyright owner for personal use, not for redistribution. Cupola permanent link: https://cupola.gettysburg.edu/consfacpub/9 This open access article is brought to you by The uC pola: Scholarship at Gettysburg College. It has been accepted for inclusion by an authorized administrator of The uC pola. For more information, please contact [email protected]. “Charleston, Goddam”: An Editorial Introduction to ACT 14.2 Abstract In this editorial, I trace the events following the tragic and racist shootings that occurred at the A.M.E. church in Charleston, South Carolina on June 17, 2015. Drawing upon anti-racist scholars and musical activists, I make a case for getting political and for cultivating activism in our classrooms. I ask our field to critically reflect upon our participation in a system that advantages Whites. I suggest that one possibility to engage in dialogue around issues of race is to encourage an environment of musical creativity where—together with students—teachers study and write music that speaks to our times and addresses issues of social justice within our local communities and across the globe.
    [Show full text]
  • Anti-Racism Resources
    Anti-Racism Resources Prepared for and by: The First Church in Oberlin United Church of Christ Part I: Statements Why Black Lives Matter: Statement of the United Church of Christ Our faith's teachings tell us that each person is created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27) and therefore has intrinsic worth and value. So why when Jesus proclaimed good news to the poor, release to the jailed, sight to the blind, and freedom to the oppressed (Luke 4:16-19) did he not mention the rich, the prison-owners, the sighted and the oppressors? What conclusion are we to draw from this? Doesn't Jesus care about all lives? Black lives matter. This is an obvious truth in light of God's love for all God's children. But this has not been the experience for many in the U.S. In recent years, young black males were 21 times more likely to be shot dead by police than their white counterparts. Black women in crisis are often met with deadly force. Transgender people of color face greatly elevated negative outcomes in every area of life. When Black lives are systemically devalued by society, our outrage justifiably insists that attention be focused on Black lives. When a church claims boldly "Black Lives Matter" at this moment, it chooses to show up intentionally against all given societal values of supremacy and superiority or common-sense complacency. By insisting on the intrinsic worth of all human beings, Jesus models for us how God loves justly, and how his disciples can love publicly in a world of inequality.
    [Show full text]
  • 47Th NAACP Image Awards
    www.theaustinvillager.com CLASSIFIEDS THE VILLAGER/February 19, 2016 ~ Page 7 EMPLOYMENT | PROPOSALS | PUBLIC INFORMATION FOR SALE | FOR RENT | BIDS | MISCELLANEOUS The Winners of the ’47th NAACP Image Awards’ Announced Live by Naomi Richard | The Austin Villager Newspaper Loretta Devine, Shonda Rhimes, Omari Hardwick, The winners of the “47th NAACP Image Awards” Wendy Raquel Robinson, Sanaa Lathan, RonReaco Lee, were announced during the live broadcast from Pasa- Keke Palmer, Teyonah Parris, Michael Ealy, Tom Joyner, dena Civic Auditorium which aired on TV One (9-11 p.m. LeToya Luckett, Ken Jeong, F. Gary Gray and more. Also ET live/PT tape-delayed) on February 5, 2016. The two- expected are cast members from “Empire” – Terrence hour live special was hosted by Anthony Anderson. Howard, Taraji P. Henson, Jussie Smollett, Bryshere Gray, There was a one-hour live pre-show from the red car- Grace Gealy, Trai Byers, Serayah, Gabourey Sidibe, pet hosted by Terrence Jenkins and Tracey Edmonds. Ta’Rhonda Jones, Kaitlin Doubleday, Lee Daniels, Danny NAACP Chairwoman Rosyln Brock presented the Strong and more. NAACP Chairman’s Award to Brittany “Bree” Newsome; The winners of the “47th NAACP Image Awards” in Justice League NYC; Concerned Student 1950 Collec- the non-televised categories were announced during a tive at the University of Missouri, Columbia; The Uni- gala dinner celebration that took place Thursday, Feb- versity of Mississippi NAACP College Chapter; Rev. Dr. ruary 4, 2016, at the Pasadena Conference Center – the Otis Moss III; Rev. Dr. Howard-John Wesley; Rev. Dr. event was hosted by Affion Crockett and Nischelle Jamal Harrison Bryant, and Jussie Smollett.
    [Show full text]
  • South Carolina Black History Bugle – Issue 3
    Book Review: HEART AND SOUL: The Story of America and African Americans Activism Education Literacy Music & the pursuit of Civil Rights I S Beacon of Hope, S A Light Out of Darkness U E T H R E E TO DREAM A BETTER WORLD The South Carolina Black History Bugle (SCBHB) is a Greetings Students, publication of the South Carolina Department of Education Welcome to the 2016 edition of The South Carolina developed by the Avery Institute of Afro-American History and Culture. Black History Bugle! The theme of this issue is, “To averyinstitute.us Dream a Better World!” We want you to use the lessons of the past to fuel your vision for a better Editor-in-Chief tomorrow. This issue is full of historical information Patricia Williams Lessane, PhD about how American slavery impacted the lives of everyday Americans—regardless of their enslaved status—well after its BUGLE STAFF abolition in 1865. Yet even after slavery’s end, African Americans Deborah Wright have continued to face various forms of oppression, and at Associate Editor times, even violence. For example, here in South Carolina, student Daron Calhoun protestors known as the Friendship Nine and those involved in the Humanities Scholar Orangeburg Massacre faced legal persecution in their pursuit of Savannah Frierson civil rights. Then in June 2015, nine members of Emanuel African Copy Editor Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston were killed in a racist attack. South Carolinians from all walks of life came together GUEST CONTRIBUTORS to support the surviving members of Emanuel Church and the Celina Brown Charleston community at large.
    [Show full text]
  • If Womanist Rhetoricians Could Speak
    Journal of Contemporary Rhetoric, Vol. 5, No.3/4, 2015, pp. 160-165. If Womanist Rhetoricians Could Speak... Kimberly Johnson With all of the national debates about race and racism that discuss the killings of young black men by police offic- ers, the excessive police force used on African American women, the Charleston Church Shooting by a white su- premacist, and even our reactions to Bree Newsome removing a confederate flag from a state capitol building; we have heard from political pundits, social activists, religious leaders, some educators, and university administrators, but there is still an important voice that is missing. This article asks the question: where is the womanist critique? When will we hear and recognize a womanist voice in the midst of all the discourse? The article not only seeks to explain why womanist rhetoricians have been missing in action, it will begin to define womanist criticism and offer a womanist critique to the discourse on race and racism. Keywords: Race and Racism, Systemic Racism, Womanism, Womanist Criticism, Womanist Rhetoricians In the aftermath of so many racially charged incidents involving African Americans, people are talking. National debates about race and racism have sparked from coast to coast in discussing the killings of young black men, Michael Brown, Eric Garner, and Freddie Gray, by police offic- ers. The unsettling video images of a California patrol officer beating a 51-year old great-grand- mother on the side of the freeway; or the excessive force used by a Texas police officer, caught on camera, who threw a teenage girl down to the ground before pinning her with his weight had people talking as well.
    [Show full text]
  • 2016 Annual Report OUR MISSON
    OUR LIVES MATTER. OUR VOTES COUNT. NAACP: 2016 Annual Report OUR MISSON The mission of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate race-based discrimination. VISION STATEMENT The vision of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is to ensure a society in which all individuals have equal rights without discrimination based on race. ii NAACP 2016 ANNUAL REPORT TABLE OF CONTENTS 2 Introduction 4 Chairman’s Letter 6 President & CEO’s Letter 8 NAACP Foundation Chairman’s Letter 9 Our Programs in Action 10 Health Department 12 Education 13 Voting Rights 14 Criminal Justice 16 Environmental & Climate Justice 17 Economic Department 19 Field Operations 27 Membership 28 Youth & College Division 31 Legal Advocacy 33 Hollywood Bureau 34 Washington, DC Bureau 36 NAACP Annual Convention 37 ACT-SO 38 Image Awards 40 Financials, Donors OUR LIVES MATTER. OUR VOTES COUNT. 1 HEADLINEINTRODUCTION TEXT 2016 marked a year of social controversy, an unprecedented year of political debate and continued police brutality throughout our communities. The work of the NAACP has brought increased visibility and bolstered our historic credibility as the premier civil rights organization with funders, the media, our members, other civil and human rights organizations, policymakers and the public. In 2016 we continued our work on the ground and as we remained heavily involved in civic engagement activities, and witnessed the election of a new President who has thus far demonstrated antagonism at best to many of our priorities - including education, criminal justice, and voting rights.
    [Show full text]
  • Rev. Dr. Howard-John Wesley, Winner Of
    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE EIGHT INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE IMPACTED OUR NATION’S SOCIAL JUSTICE ENVIRONMENT TO RECEIVE NAACP CHAIRMAN’S AWARD AT THE 47TH NAACP IMAGE AWARDS Two-Hour Special Airs Live on Friday, February 5 on TV One at 9:00 p.m. ET; One-Hour Pre-Show Airs Live from the Red Carpet at 8:00 p.m. ET LOS ANGELES, CA (Jan. 19, 2016) – This year the Chairman of the NAACP National Board of Directors, Roslyn M. Brock, will present the prestigious Chairman’s Award to individuals and organizations who have used their distinct platforms to be agents of change. The recipients are Brittany “Bree” Newsome; Justice League NYC; Concerned Student 1950 Collective at the University of Missouri, Columbia; The University of Mississippi NAACP College Chapter; Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III; Rev. Dr. Howard-John Wesley; Rev. Dr. Jamal Harrison Bryant, and Jussie Smollett. The presentation will take place during the 47th NAACP Image Awards, broadcast live on Friday, February 5 (9:00 p.m. ET/PT tape-delayed) on TV One, the civil rights organization announced today. “It is a rare privilege for me to present the NAACP Chairman’s 2016 Award to an outstanding group of trailblazing leaders all under the age of 50 who have given voice and vision to the mantra that black lives matter,” stated Roslyn M. Brock, Chairman of the NAACP National Board of Directors. “The five individuals and three organizations have raised awareness of social, educational, and economic injustice from college campuses, church pulpits and the streets, and exemplify what this award symbolizes - “Courage Will Not Skip this Generation.®” The NAACP Chairman’s Award is bestowed in recognition of special achievement and distinguished public service.
    [Show full text]
  • Figure 1. Jianguo Village
    Contemporary Culture Wars: Challenging the Legacy of the Confederacy Melanie L. Buffington Virginia Commonwealth University ABSTRACT This paper focuses on the ongoing culture war related to representations of the Confederacy and those who fought for white supremacy since the end of the Civil War. Throughout the United States, and particularly in the southern states, there are physical reminders of the Confederacy on public land that take many forms, including monuments and the names of schools. The author shares two in-depth examples of community response grappling with this history and suggests Critical Race Theory as a lens through which to unpack the political nature of the built environment. Through studying the work of contemporary artists who challenge symbols of the Confederacy, students can engage in ongoing dialogues with regional and national implications. KEYWORDS: culture wars, Confederacy, Confederate flag, monuments, Bree Newsome, Sonya Clark Since before the inception of the United States and continuing until today, issues of equity have been an ongoing struggle. The struggle for equity takes many contemporary forms, including the criminal justice system, the school-to-prison (or cradle-to-prison) pipeline, educational funding, housing discrimination, equal pay for equal work, access to healthcare, representation and equity for LGBTQIA+ communities, the status of undocumented migrants, and acceptance of religious minorities and people who do not practice religion, among others. Though there are multiple ways to understand each of these issues, these can be broadly understood as ongoing culture wars among people with different viewpoints. Some work to recreate a version of the past when equality and rights were not legally or reliably available to a wide segment of the population based on moral, religious, or other belief systems, and others actively seek a more equitable future in which these issues are present and openly addressed.
    [Show full text]
  • Unbowed, Unbroken, and Unsung: the Unrecognized Contributions of African American Women in Social Movements, Politics, and the Maintenance of Democracy
    William & Mary Journal of Race, Gender, and Social Justice Volume 25 (2018-2019) Issue 3 Article 6 April 2019 Unbowed, Unbroken, and Unsung: The Unrecognized Contributions of African American Women in Social Movements, Politics, and the Maintenance of Democracy Patricia A. Broussard Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarship.law.wm.edu/wmjowl Part of the Civil Rights and Discrimination Commons, Law and Gender Commons, and the Law and Race Commons Repository Citation Patricia A. Broussard, Unbowed, Unbroken, and Unsung: The Unrecognized Contributions of African American Women in Social Movements, Politics, and the Maintenance of Democracy, 25 Wm. & Mary J. Women & L. 631 (2019), https://scholarship.law.wm.edu/wmjowl/vol25/iss3/6 Copyright c 2019 by the authors. This article is brought to you by the William & Mary Law School Scholarship Repository. https://scholarship.law.wm.edu/wmjowl UNBOWED, UNBROKEN, AND UNSUNG: THE UNRECOGNIZED CONTRIBUTIONS OF AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN IN SOCIAL MOVEMENTS, POLITICS, AND THE MAINTENANCE OF DEMOCRACY PATRICIA A. BROUSSARD* You may write me down in history With your bitter, twisted lies, You may trod me in the very dirt But still, like dust, I’ll rise.1 INTRODUCTION I. A HISTORY OF BLACK WOMEN’S STRENGTH: EARLY MOVEMENTS A. Revolts, Rebellions, and Resistance II. A HISTORY OF BLACK WOMEN’S STRENGTH: POST-EMANCIPATION AND THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT—PART 1 A. Emancipation B. The Civil Rights Movement—Part 1 III. A HISTORY OF BLACK WOMEN’S STRENGTH: THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT—PART 2 A. Early Rumblings B. Civil Rights and Black Women Circa 1960 C. Black Women and the Black Power Movement IV.
    [Show full text]
  • State of the World's Minorities and Indigenous Peoples 2016 (MRG)
    State of the World’s Minorities and Indigenous Peoples 2016 Events of 2015 Focus on culture and heritage State of theWorld’s Minorities and Indigenous Peoples 20161 Events of 2015 Front cover: Cholitas, indigenous Bolivian Focus on culture and heritage women, dancing on the streets of La Paz as part of a fiesta celebrating Mother’s Day. REUTERS/ David Mercado. Inside front cover: Street theatre performance in the Dominican Republic. From 2013 to 2016 MRG ran a street theatre programme to challenge discrimination against Dominicans of Haitian Descent in the Acknowledgements Dominican Republic. MUDHA. Minority Rights Group International (MRG) Inside back cover: Maasai community members in gratefully acknowledges the support of all Kenya. MRG. organizations and individuals who gave financial and other assistance to this publication, including the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland. © Minority Rights Group International, July 2016. All rights reserved. Material from this publication may be reproduced for teaching or other non-commercial purposes. No part of it may be reproduced in any form for Support our work commercial purposes without the prior express Donate at www.minorityrights.org/donate permission of the copyright holders. MRG relies on the generous support of institutions and individuals to help us secure the rights of For further information please contact MRG. A CIP minorities and indigenous peoples around the catalogue record of this publication is available from world. All donations received contribute directly to the British Library. our projects with minorities and indigenous peoples. ISBN 978-1-907919-80-0 Subscribe to our publications at State of www.minorityrights.org/publications Published: July 2016 Another valuable way to support us is to subscribe Lead reviewer: Carl Soderbergh to our publications, which offer a compelling Production: Jasmin Qureshi analysis of minority and indigenous issues and theWorld’s Copy editing: Sophie Richmond original research.
    [Show full text]
  • Download=False&C Ount=0
    “BUT WHAT IF INSTEAD WE IMAGINE BLACK LIFE” Femininity, Performance, and the Black Lives Matter Movement A thesis submitted by Theresa Incampo in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts In Theatre and Performance Studies Tufts University May 2018 Adviser: Dr. Kareem Khubchandani ABSTRACT This project analyzes the use of gesture and posture in Black Lives Matter protests staged between 2014 and 2017 to explore the performative potential of bodily enactments in contemporary racial justice activism. Through a focus on the feminist performance techniques of laying, kneeling, standing in protest environments, I address the ways in which the BLM movement was founded by and continues to grow through the leadership of female-identifying activists who counter the problematic narrative that masculine figures have historically dominated racial justice advocacy. I engage with embodied forms of performance grounded in femininity and female subjectivity to illustrate how this labor works to create space in highly-policed protest spaces, and that it exists as a means of practicing or imagining liberation for contemporary racial subjects in the United States. In synthesizing the work of scholars from feminist studies, critical race studies, and performance studies, this thesis considers the capacity for femininity to act as a potent tool for racial and gender liberation. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS First and foremost, I want to thank my adviser, Kareem Khubchandani. I could not have completed this project without his enthusiasm, guidance, and incredible knowledge surrounding performance studies, gender and racial advocacy, and the proper use of emojis. He was an incredible resource and showed unwavering support throughout the process of proposing, crafting, and defending this project.
    [Show full text]
  • We Been Knowin: Toward an Antiracist Language & Literacy
    Journal of Language and Literacy Education Vol. 16 Issue 1—Spring 2020 We Been Knowin: Toward an Antiracist Language & Literacy Education April Baker -Bell Abstract: This essay asserts the importance for English/Language Arts educators to become conversant with the features of Black Language and the cultural, and historical foundations of this speech genre as a rule-bound, grammatically consistent pattern of speech. These features go beyond grammar to include such conventions as a reliance on storytelling as a means& of communicating ideas. The author proposes a set of issues for educators to consider so that they may produce antiracist scholarship, praxis, and knowledge that work toward transformation and social change in service of addressing racial, cultural, and linguistic inequities in language and literacy education. The essay concludes with ten framing ideas for generating an antiracist Black Language Pedagogy in order to produce a society founded on respect and appreciation for the historical, cultural, political, and racial underpinnings of Black Language. Keywords: anti-Black linguistic racism, antiracist critical media literacies, anti-racist pedagogies, Black Language, White Mainstream English Dr. April Baker-Bell is Assistant Professor of Language, Literacy, and English Education in the Department of English and African American and African Studies department at Michigan State University. Her research interrogates the intersections of sociolinguistics, anti-black racism, and anti- racist pedagogies; and is concerned with anti-racist writing pedagogies, critical media literacies, Black feminist-womanist storytelling, and the health & wellness needs of women of color in academia, with an emphasis on early career Black women. The root of her research stems from her experience being ill- prepared to address her Black students’ language and literacy needs when she worked as a high school English teacher in Detroit.
    [Show full text]