“Here I come with all my Black girl magic”: Black women and girls’ experiences in predominantly white independent private schools

Within independent private schools specifically, Black women and girls endure feelings of rejection, isolation, and inadequacy all whilst trying to maintain their academic or career success and a positive self-perception. Through the lenses of Black Feminist Thought and Critical Race Theory, this dissertation presents Black women and girls’ true experiences in PWIS which defy dominant deficit beliefs. Participants detailed the racism, erasure, and trauma they endured and the detrimental effects these experiences caused in their lives. They also expressed the importance and value of their relationships with one another. These relationships provided them with the affirmation and confidence they needed to believe in and stand up for themselves. Black women and girls engage in various resistance strategies through living authentically, challenging dominant norms, and advocating for themselves and others in the school community.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Educ Policy, Orgzn & Leadrshp

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2020

Author dc:creator

• Owens, Devean R.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Welton, Anjalé
• Brown, Ruth N
• Dixson, Adrienne
• Neville, Helen

• Black women
• Black girls
• independent schools
• Black girl friendships
• Black women friendships, Black feminism, Critical Race Theory

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2020 Devean Owens

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/107877

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/107877