Serving in Black spaces of the institution: A decolonial Black feminist autoethnography

Abstract

abstract Black women serving in Black Culture Centres (BCCs) are often tasked with cultivating a safe space for Black students (Young 1986), yet may experience their own gendered racism from the same institution which they are supporting students through (Jenkins et al. 2021). As such, a decolonial Black feminist authoethnographic approach allowed me to be self-reflexive in examining day-to-day challenges as a leader; including the desire to incorporate feminist ethics of care such as othermothering into developing the safe space for Black students, while navigating the pervasiveness of racism and sexism experienced in the institution. Situating my experience as a tension, I seek to contribute to the research by examining how Black women BCC directors can embrace othermothering while also resisting capitalistic expectations of labour through a decolonial Black feminist approach to leadership. Findings from this study contribute to the emerging scholarship exploring the experiences of Black women in BCCs and provide an authentic understanding of the day-to-day work. Finally, strategies are provided for Black women directors who seek to incorporate a decolonial Black feminist praxis into their leadership as BCC directors.