Joy in a Time of Struggle: Actualizing the “FUTURE” of Social Justice Educational Research

Session Type: Symposium

Abstract

In a season of chaos, it can often be hard to see, feel, or experience joy. Yet, scholars, poets, activists, and others write about having joy and experiencing joy, while in the midst of oppressive systems and chaotic moments. Such approaches not only acknowledge the challenges but also attend to the humanity, resistance, and refusal of the people placed within them. Race Critical Futurisms—frameworks that help envision oppression-free worlds that build from the beauty, brilliance, culture, and creativity of the people such as Afrofuturism and Chicanofuturism—provide a mechanism to embrace and envision oppression-free structures that build from joy. In this session, scholar-creatives and scholar-activists will share insight on how different groups embody joy while situated within oppressive systems and chaotic moments. Additionally, they will provide insight into the future of social justice research and praxis in education, particularly when utilizing futurisms as a framework to structure one’s scholarly and practice-focused endeavors.

Sub Unit

• Social Justice Action Committee

Chair

• Terrell R Morton, University of Illinois at Chicago

Participants

• Antar A. Tichavakunda, University of California - Santa Barbara

• Juan G. Berumen, University of California - Berkeley

• Erica Edwards, Eastern Michigan University

• Ashley N. Woodson, Black epiSTEMologies

• Kareem Edouard, Drexel University