Abstract
This article underscores healthy tensions of navigating youth participatory action research (YPAR) and writing in an academic and intergenerational context. Counter-storytelling (Solórzano & Yosso 2002) is used as a method to unveil parallels across two different geographic contexts. Echoing the words of Gloria E. Anzaldúa, while we may be scared to write, we are more scared of not writing (Anzaldúa, 1981). This paper unveils experiences of displacement across two different geographic contexts among high school youth and the tensions embedded in the writing process across an intergenerational collective. In the words of Mr. Gar from OK K.O.!: Let’s be heroes: “sometimes it is the things we are ashamed of that are worth being proud of.” Thus, we begin by revealing what it means to write as youth, as adults afraid to write for the youth. It is here in this space that we, an intergenerational collective, make the choice to write together.
Highlights
This article underscores healthy tensions of navigating youth participatory action research (YPAR) and writing in an academic and intergenerational context
The BARE youth define YPAR as “a place where I can talk about racism without being ridiculed” (Karla Torres, BARE Youth); “YPAR is a place to experience other people’[s] opinions on other race related topics” (Vijay, BARE Youth); YPAR focuses on “Empowering youth to use their voices in order to create change politically regarding racial inequality, on a local, national, and global level” (Malikam, BARE Youth); and “YPAR for me is not just talking about the problem but taking action” (Saja, BARE Youth)
Adding to not really knowing why many teachers have left, we have heard of some teachers from themselves that they have not been treated right and that makes them leave, which affects us because we don’t have that teacher that we have a strong bond with us that is supposed to help us get through high school and prepare us
Summary
An example of displacement at my school is when my peers and I are left out of school funding meetings. Displacement in my school means feeling like you are not good enough because of your race, not have equal rights, being told you are to[o] young to be an advocate. It means being treated like you are dumb because you are not on the same "level" as someone else. Both groups independently reviewed and discussed responses to the question before coming together to analyze and identify emerging themes. The following table depicts the themes developed alongside the counter-stories illustrated by our youth authors
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
