Black Women Teacher Educators: Creating Enduring Afriographies as Leaders and Change Makers

Abstract

ithin the womanist tradition, Black women have fought against multiple oppressions through theconstruction of enduring afriographies , as leaders and change-makers, and as scholars committed toresearch and service in and for communities of color (Henry, 1998; Hill, 2002; Ladson-Billings, 1996). Thisstudy investigated the perspectives, experiences, and practices of three Black women teacher educatorsusing womanist theory and portraiture methodology. In interviewing and shadowing participants, andreviewing documents related to their teaching practices, two questions were posed: a) In what ways are theirteaching practices informed by their experiences?; and, How does the theme of "race uplift" help to shapetheir work within the academy? This paper explores findings from the latter question and considersparticipants' power to lead and effect change in their academic roles and in their creation of enduringafriographies.