Black School Leaders Seeking Truth in Communities They Engage

• In Event: 31.023 - Social Justice Leadership in the Trump Era

Abstract

Social justice oriented Black school leaders center the experiences of the communities they serve in their work. They recognize that to overcome barriers to equity and justice, they must learn from families the contours of those obstacles, be they academic challenges or impediments brought upon by racial and cultural discrimination. Two school leaders juxtapose their leadership efforts to engage parents and caregivers against a discussion of Families of Color perceptions and experiences with Leaders of Color. Using auto ethnographic analysis and interviews, this mixed methods study explores the extent to which Families of Color feel relationship with Leaders of Color. Preliminary findings suggest that the reality of shared racial/ ethnic experiences enable relationships between Leaders of Color and Families of Color.

Authors

• Jamel Adkins-Sharif, University of Massachusetts - Boston

• Natalie D Lewis, University of Denver