Black women under the white gaze: Resistance from enslavement to incarceration and reentry.

Black women in the United States who are currently incarcerated or have previously served time in prison have a particular need for protection as they move through the criminal “injustice” system because they frequently act as the primary caregivers for their families. Consequently, Black female convicts have historically had to create their social networks inside and outside carceral spaces as a form of resistance to white supremacist ideologies and as a site of protection. By highlighting Black women’s history of enslavement and incarceration, the different forms of resistance, and centering their narratives, we can paint a more complex picture of the communities formed within carceral spaces and ascertain how grassroots organizations outside these carceral spaces benefit and enhance these Black women's ability and efforts to re-enter society successfully. My research/project seeks to contribute to this discussion using an exploratory research design and intersectional theoretical frameworks to delve into the unique history of Black women in America, the criminal injustice system, and the importance of community support re-entry networks of resistance.