Abstract
This track centers the concept of freedom dreaming to uplift the voices of Black queer youth to (1) explore what they think safe schooling should look like in the future, and (2) understand how they think those visions can come true. In focus groups, participants dreamed of futures where all Black queer youth are protected if harm occurs, feel well-represented in K–12 schools, and have adequate access to resources like mental health support and creative outlets. Participants believed these dreams could come true partly through collaboration between schools and Black and Black queer community organizations. Participants ’ dreams of safer schools overlapped with those of non-queer Black youth and reflected beliefs about the inability to ever reach a utopic future free from white supremacy. This work expands existing Black queer student safety literature by moving beyond narratives of trauma and instead contributes youths ’ dreams of safer, more inclusive educational systems.
Recommended Citation
Harbin, L. (2025). Black Queer Youths’ Dreams of Safer and Equitable Schools. Black Educology Mixtape "Journal", 3(1). Retrieved from https://repository.usfca.edu/be/vol3/iss1/13