“Black Girl Magic is everything”: Recommendations for cultivating supportive spaces for Black girls

ABSTRACT

The concept of #BlackGirlMagic has resonated with Black women and Black girls across the world. Black Girl Magic is as unique as a fingerprint and serves as an invitation for Black girls to be present as their true, most powerful selves. In reflecting on the power of Black Girl Magic for Black girls as 5 Black women in psychological science and education, we describe 3 recommendations for cultivating supportive spaces for Black girls to be magical. These recommendations can serve as an important starting point for future conversations and purposeful action.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional resources

1. Workneh, L., & Thompson, C. (2021). Good night stories for rebel girls: 100 real-life tales of Black Girl Magic. Rebel Girls.

Educators can use this book to learn more about and highlight the accomplishments of 100 Black girls and women who embody Black Girl Magic. The book tells the stories of Black women who students may not read about in their textbook. Alongside each biography, the book features an illustration created by a Black female or nonbinary illustrator.

2. Morris, M. W. (2022). Cultivating Joyful Learning Spaces for Black Girls: Insights Into Interrupting School Pushout. ASCD.

Through conversation with educators and practitioners, Dr. Couvson’s (formerly Dr. Morris) latest book discusses how to address the pushout of Black girls in school, primarily through cultivating meaningful relationships with Black girls.

3. Morris, M.W. & Atlas, J. (2019). Pushout: The criminalization of Black girls in schools. [Film]. Women in the Room Productions.

Through conversations with Black girls and other experts in the field of education, the documentary discusses adultification bias, brings awareness to how schools have harmed Black girls, and profiles schools and organizations that have successfully nurtured the magic of Black girls.

Notes

1. In alignment with Girls for Gender Equity, we use Black girls as an umbrella term to refer to “cis and trans Black girls and gender non-conforming Black youth.”