Building the Foundation for Self-Love: Black Women’s Work With Black Girls

• In Event: The Language of Black Girls' Love Lessons: Black Girls’ Teachings on Love Through Literacy

Abstract

Black girls possess unique literacies shaped by self-, historical, and cultural knowledge. This concept, rooted in Anna Julia Cooper's idea of a specific female truth (Cooper, 1988), has influenced the development of Black Feminism and thought. Richardson's (2003) African American Literacies expands upon this notion, emphasizing that Black women's literacies encompass more than just verbal communication. In this presentation, I present a case study that explores how young Black girls in New Orleans curate joy, resist violence, and promote well-being through photography, Black girl literacies, and collective art making. They generate content from their lived experiences, supported by scholars who recognize the importance of children finding their voices and using photography for inquiry. This integrated case study uses participatory, and ethnographic methods to examine how young Black girls curate joy, resist everyday violences, and promote well-being in their daily lives through the use of photography, Black girl literacies, and collective art making. Art and storytelling are vehicles for caring for Black girls, their families, and their stories, with an impact on research, policies, and schooling experiences. This chapter highlights the significance of valuing Black girls' perspectives, nurturing their education and futures, and listening to their hopes and dreams. It emphasizes the role of art in creating a more just future for Black girls amidst intersecting racial and gendered challenges.

Author

• Maureen Wiliette Nicol, Teachers College, Columbia University