Black Mothering in Academia: Sacred Refusal as Resistance, Care, and a Framework for Institutional Change

• In Event: Critical perspectives on the experiences of students of color

Abstract

This paper explores the attrition of Black women educators in academia through the lens of Sacred Refusal, a Black feminist praxis that interprets departure as spiritual resistance and a form of self-preservation. It draws on a re-analysis of narrative data from a prior qualitative study and proposes a future quantitative follow-up to examine potential correlations between emotional labor, institutional neglect, and educator attrition. Grounded in Black feminist theory, this research seeks to quantify the impact of structural oppression on wellbeing and long-term professional sustainability. The findings aim to reframe teacher departure not as personal failure, but as a deliberate act of refusal. This work carries implications for leadership, retention policy, and redefining care in educational institutions, particularly universities and schools.

Authors

• Lashante Mystic Briscoe, Northcentral University

• Justin L. Alexander, Delaware State University

• Karen Holland, Delaware State University

• Ashley Grey, Delaware State University