Endarkened Storywork: Illuminating the Journeys of Black Female Students Navigating Homelessness in Postsecondary Settings

• In Event: Home and Kinship for College Students

Abstract

Homelessness is attached with negative stigma and generalizations (Kidd, 2007). For young Black female college students grappling with homelessness, their socioeconomic status intertwines with their race and gender identities (Crenshaw, 1991). These experiences often compound the complexities of homelessness, uniquely shaped by the nuanced racialized and gendered realities faced by Black girls. Recognizing the diversity among Blackgirls (Boylorn, 2016; Cahill, 2021) and their multifaceted symbolic representations, this project employs endarkened storywork (Toliver, 2022) informed by intersectionality theory to explore the lived experiences of two Black female college students experiencing homelessness. Through the power of storytelling, these young women's narratives illuminate three central themes, each pivotal in conveying their experiences: the societal negative perception of Black women, constrained economic opportunities, and a sense of invisibility within educational institutions.

Authors

• E. Nichole Robinson, One Degree Hire

• Taryrn Tinasha Chemwandoita Brown, University of Florida