Studying and Imagining Mattering With Black Boys: Mutual Self-Discoveries for Collective Healing and Liberation

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Sunday 9:50 am Four Seasons Ballroom 2-3
  In Roundtable Session: Collaborative Meaning-Making in Communities Through Qualitative Research (Table 14)

Abstract

Through The Black Boy Mattering Project, we qualitatively explore how high school-aged Black boys perceive their school and societal significance or “mattering” using one-on-one interviews, focus groups, and artistic experiences. However, our research is also collective “me-search.” Drawing upon self-reflections from our racially and ethnically diverse research team, we deploy critical reflectivity to discuss how our discernment of Black boys’ mattering intertwined with researchers’ positionalities to spur self-discoveries. We highlight how our study fosters healing from painful oppressive forces, inspires us to imagine beyond received realities for Black boys and ourselves, and draws us closer to our own individual and collective liberation. Emergent lessons transfer to other collectives of critical qualitative researchers working toward mutual liberation with marginalized populations.

Authors

• Roderick L. Carey, University of Delaware

• Mark Xavier Miller, University of Delaware

• Camila Polanco, University of Delaware

• William Woelki, University of Delaware

• Latrice Marianno, Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville

• Sophia Sunshine Vilceus, University of Delaware