Opening Minds Early Education Conference 2019

Black boys and boyhoods are misunderstood because research methodologies objectify them, focus on external phenomena and place control of their narratives in the hands of adults. As a result, Black boys and boyhoods are solely understood through the lens of others. This can reify denigrating stereotypes about Black boys and obscure important facts about their lived experiences. Misunderstandings about Black boys and boyhoods forecloses space for imagining different possibilities and solutions to the myriad of issues Black boys face in school and out of school. My interests in understanding how Black boys are objectified, devalued as research participants and controlled by adult-centered narratives are based on my personal, academic and professional experiences.