Fighting to be Seen: (Re)visioning the Power of Persistently Disciplined Black Girls

Limited research celebrates the strengths of Black girls as they resist policies and practices in education designed to push them out of public schools. This study examined how Black girls experienced school discipline and other life challenges at alarming rates in our public schools. Findings from this embedded case study discovered the strengths of Black girls who experienced more than two out-of-school suspensions while persisting in being promoted to the next grade level and/or graduating from high school. From cross-case analysis the following findings were presented (1) trust and love: female elders and helping professions, (2) spirituality: mindfulness, joy, and prayer, (3) resistance: justice, and truth, and (4) independence. By taking a closer, more thorough look at each girl, we identified strengths, supports, and inspiration that promotes their continued education engagement.