Hair me out: Unforgetting hairitage and futuring Black feminist possibility

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Wednesday 9:45 am - Gold 1
  In Roundtable Session: Roundtable Session 1: Student Learning and Development in College and Beyond

Abstract

This qualitative narrative inquiry examines the doctoral experiences of two Black women at a predominantly White-serving institution. In our narratives, we center our “hairitage,” which we conceptualize as cultural knowledge transmitted through haircare practices, as a source of identity, resistance, and epistemological strength. Drawing on Black feminist and womanist frameworks, this study introduces “kitchen epistemology,” a way of knowing rooted in communal, care-based practices that challenges dominant Western academic paradigms. Through personal narratives of our journeys from 2017 to 2025, we explore how we navigate cultural mismatches between our lived experiences and institutional expectations. Results offer implications for creating more inclusive doctoral programs that recognize diverse epistemological approaches and support the success of marginalized students in academia.

Authors

• Quinci Bone't Teer, Cleveland State University

• Tristta M. Kuykendall, Cleveland State University