Ubuntu and En Lak'ech: Repositioning Black Scholars in the Latine Diaspora

• In Event: 21020 - Section on Sociology of Education Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (60 minute): Table 19: Redefining Belonging and Opportunity: Race, Identity, and Educational Access Across Borders

Abstract

This research explores the experiences of Black scholars and students within the Latine diaspora
through a decolonial lens. By centering the voices and lived experiences of Black Creole descent
women scholars, we examine the enduring impacts of Spanish colonialism on racial stratification,
identity formation, and educational access. Employing critical autoethnography and co-creation
methods, we investigate how ancestral concepts such as ubuntu and in lak'ech can foster healing
and resilience. Our findings illuminate the need for a transformative approach to education that
centers marginalized communities and challenges dominant narratives. This research contributes to
decolonial scholarship by offering a framework for creating more equitable and inclusive
educational spaces.

Authors

• Stephanie-Renee R. Anckle, California Lutheran University

• Lorri J Santamaría, California Lutheran University