A friend that sticks closer than a brother: a hermeneutic phenomenological analysis of resilience in Black bereaved mothers that have lost a child to gun violence
Despite literature considering the impact of child loss on parents, communication scholars have yet to examine the resilience of bereaved Black mothers. Specifically, this present study examined the role of Black sisterhood and spirituality as tools of resilience for 15 Black bereaved mothers that have lost a child to gun violence. Semi-structured interviews were combined with hermeneutic phenomenology, the communication theory of resilience, and the strong Black woman collective theory. Results revealed that Black bereaved mothers used interpersonal and spiritual relationships to grapple with the new reality of violent child loss. Black sisterhood offered social support and safe place to discuss grief. Spirituality allowed participants to admit being angry with God. Spirituality also offered divine encounters for participants to interact with their deceased child. The communication theory of resilience highlighted how participants often used social media groups to commune with other mothers that were suffering from child loss. Social media groups appeared as an extended communication network that many participants found extremely beneficial.
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