Leading Ladies: A Hermeneutic Phenomenology of Black Women School Leaders in the Wake of Brown v. Board of Education

This study examined the lived experiences of Black women school leaders in the after-math of the Brown v. Board of Education (1954) decision. Despite the impact of their leader-ship, Black women school leaders remain undertheorized, especially during the period of desegregation. By understanding their lived experiences, this study aimed to shed light on the implications for contemporary Black women leaders and contribute to future research. Drawing upon intersectionality (Crenshaw, 1991) and sensemaking (Weick, 1995) theories, this study investigated how Black women negotiated their roles in desegregated schools while grappling with the complexities of their intersecting identities. The research employed a hermeneutic phenomenological approach (Gadamer, 2004) to analyze the data in response to two research questions: (1) What are the lived experiences of five Black women school leaders who led in the aftermath of the Brown v. Board of Education (1954) decision? (2) How did five Black women school leaders make sense of their roles in a desegregated school setting between 1965 and 1985, after the Brown v. Board of Education (1954) decision? Data were collected using semi-structured interviews with five Black women school leaders, document analysis, and reflective journaling. While acknowledging limitations such as sample size constraints and access to specific data, this research provides a rich and comprehensive exploration of a critical aspect of educational leadership history. In examining patterns, commitments, and hindrances identified in previous research, this study offers valuable insights into the unique challenges and triumphs of Black women leaders in education.