Black Urban Storytelling and Thuglife Philosophy: A Radical Framework for Reclaiming Black Male Identity and Success in Educational Spaces

• In Event: AERA Poster Session Thursday 2:15pm
  In Poster Session: Creative Pedagogies: Storytelling, Joy, and Radical Imagination in Black Education

Abstract

This article presents Black Urban Storytelling, a radical Afrocentric framework grounded in Tupac Shakur’s Thug Life philosophy, to critically examine and transform the educational experiences of Black boys and men. Building on and extending Critical Race Theory’s counter-storytelling tradition, it centers Black males’ lived realities, linguistic practices, and cultural resilience. Anchored by three pillars—(1) The Bounce Back, (2) Humanizing Black Male Identity, and (3) Resisting Oppression—this framework offers a blueprint for reclaiming educational spaces historically marked by criminalization and exclusion. It positions Black urban narratives as powerful agents of healing, identity affirmation, and systemic change. The article further discusses implications for culturally responsive pedagogy, inclusive curricula, and policy reform aimed at fostering thriving educational environments for Black boys and men.

Author

• Shanice Nicole Robinson, San Francisco State University