A Narratological Inquiry into U.S. African Refugee Youths’ Educational Experiences

The arrival of refugees over the past two decades changed the face of classrooms in Kansas City, Missouri, resulting in refugee youth being unprepared for post-secondary opportunities. This critical narrative study aimed to explore the lived experiences of African refugee youth (aged 18 and above) attending public high school in the MidwestUnited States. Based on current and recently arriving African refugee populations, 10 participants originally hailed from Somalia, Congo, Liberia, Sudan, and Burundi. A crystalized theoretical framework of socio-cultural, migratory, and critical race theory guided qualitative narratological data analysis collected via interviews focusing on the participants' educational experiences. Data analysis followed descriptive and interpretive coding to analyze and identify themes, trends, and patterns providing insight into participants’ experiences and how they affected their academic and social endeavors. Findings revealed that participants’ escape, cultural experience, U.S. resettlement, academic shock, intolerance, toil/exertion, challenges, recurrence, defensive mechanism, beneficial encounter, academic effect, and social illumination all influenced their educational experiences. In addition, in-depth theoretical analysis exposed systemic societal racism among every theme, thereby illuminating deep-rootedracism as the primary factor negatively affecting African refugee youths’ U.S. iii educational experiences. These findings help identify strategies and interventions supporting African refugee youth preparing for post-secondary opportunities.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy)

Level thesis:degree_level

Doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Curriculum and Instruction (UMKC)

Grantor

University of Missouri--Kansas City

Year dc:date.issued

2023

Author dc:creator

• Bakar, Abdulkadir

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Ukpokodu, Omiunota Nelly

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/10355/95109

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:mospace.umsystem.edu:10355/95109