“I See Things Differently, and I'm Willing to Take the Risk”: The Makings of A Womanist Scholar-Activist, Dr. Joyce Ann Ladner

This dissertation examines the life and intellectual production of Dr. Joyce Ann Ladner, civil rights icon and renowned sociologist. A chronological investigation shows how Ladner’s rearing in a majority Black community and matriculation through an historically Black college (HBCU) as a student activist informed her use of scholarship in the struggle for freedom. A study of Joyce Ladner’s life and career trajectory is a way to locate her in a Black radical intellectual tradition that has largely given insufficient attention to her early contributions to the field of sociology. Taking a gendered approach by relying on Black feminists social theory, particularly Alice Walker’s womanism, addresses significant gaps in mainstay ideas about identity formations, which is often told through a patriarchal lens. I was able to define resistance more broadly by recognizing Ladner as a womanist scholar-activist. Specifically, Ladner transformed her direct action for social and political change into research, teaching and public engagement. She shows us that resistance is an embodied experience; therefore, refusal will manifest in different ways. To gather data for the project, I conducted semi-structured interviews, analyzed oral histories, and examined letters, conference papers, syllabi, manuscript drafts, office memos, and social media posts from Ladner’s personal collection to ascertain her way of doing sociology. Departing from a dominant masculine narrative provides a broad understanding of Black womanhood and widens the scope of representations on the scholar activist. These findings reveal a vital arc in scholar activism that is timely as academe undergoes the gutting of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. Ladner models the rewards of persistence and the possibility of what the academy can be.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

American Studies

Grantor dc:publisher

University of Kansas

Year dc:date.issued

2025

Author dc:creator

• Bonner, Shelia D.

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Tucker, Sherrie

• Black Women
• Institute of the Black World
• intellectual history
• Joyce Ladner
• Tougaloo College
• Womanist Intellectual Activist

Statement dc:rights

• This item is protected by copyright and unless otherwise specified the copyright of this thesis/dissertation is held by the author.

Language dc:language.iso

en

Dc Identifier Other

https://www.proquest.com/LegacyDocView/DISSNUM/32401288

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/36333