Inner Joy Versus Hardship: Insights from Black Girls

In this thought-provoking and very timely episode of Digital Dominoes, Angeline has an inspiring conversation with Alexandria Onuoha, who recently completed her PhD dissertation on the meaning of joy among Black girls. Alexandria shares her research, which challenges the conventional deficit-based models of understanding Black children. She emphasizes the importance of recognizing joy as a core part of the human experience, even in the face of adversity. Her study involved 14 Black middle school girls capturing their interpretations of joy through photography, revealing insights into how joy is perceived as a constant source tied to spirituality and purpose. The episode extends into broader discussions on societal perceptions, youth development, and the role of digital spaces in shaping self-esteem and mental health. Alexandria underscores the need for creating joy spaces both offline and online to foster resilience against social and digital harms. Tune in to learn how joy can be a radical act of resistance and collective futures for Black girls and beyond. 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 01:15 Alexandria's Dissertation on Joy 02:54 Methodology: Photo Voice Study 04:17 Key Findings on Joy 07:49 Digital Context and Black Girls 19:04 Intersectional Bias and Misogynoir 23:01 Lessons from Black Girls 27:34 Conclusion and Final ThoughtsMore on the speakers:Alexandria Onuoha: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandriaonuoha/Angeline Corvaglia https://www.linkedin.com/in/angeline-corvaglia/ Check out our sponsor, Data Girl and Friends: https://data-girl-and-friends.com/#Joy #Resilience #YouthDevelopment #SocialJustice #DigitalWellness #IntersectionalBias #Empowerment #MentalHealth #JoySpaces learn how joy can be a radical act of resistance and collective futures for Black girls and beyond