Restorative Self-healing From the Trauma Within: Collaborative Autoethnographies of Two Black Women Leaders in Education

• In Event: Well-Being as Foundational to Women of Color Efforts for Equity and Social Justice Leadership

Abstract

Black women leaders in education often face racism, sexism, and micro/macro aggressions, leading to a deep yearning for safety and kinship—particularly with other Black women. However, systemic injustices within academic spaces can fracture these kinships, creating tensions, power struggles, and even internalized oppression. Such dynamics can be deeply traumatic, requiring intentional self-healing. This proposal, grounded in a womanist framework, offers a collaborative autoethnographic narrative exploring our lived experiences as two Black women leaders in academia. We examine our personal journeys toward healing and restoration, while also highlighting the critical gaps in the literature around support structures for healing within oppressive systems. This work contributes to broader conversations on justice, leadership, and the complexities of solidarity in educational spaces.

Authors

• Nicole Williams Browning, California State University - East Bay

• Winnie Kwofie, Texas Tech University