Black Girl Magic: Introduction to Black Girlhood Studies
In this 5 week course, students will learn about Black Girlhood Studies, a fast developing knowledge base that gives specific attention to the nuances of Black histories and futures through the eyes of Black girls.
Mrs. Morgan
Average rating:
5.0
Number of reviews:(4)
What's included
15 live meetings
22 hrs 30 mins in-class hoursHomework
2-4 hours per week. Each week, students will be given supplementary reading and visual content to support their learning. Most of these readings will be provided by the teacher, but there are a few novels that we will read as as a community. The readings will take 30 minutes to an hour between class meetings to read and unpack. Please pace yourself during your reading and take notes. Feel free to message Ms. Morgan should you have questions/concerns about the content. During the final week of class, students will present group presentations centered around a predetermined topic. Students will be allotted 20-25 minutes at the end of classes to collaborate on their presentation from Week 5, onward. More instruction on this aspect of class will be shared during weeks 3 and 4 of class.Assessment
Final presentations will assess the depth of knowledge and analysis acquired over the duration of the course.Class Experience
US Grade 8 - 11
In this discussion based class, students will learn about the emerging academic field of Black Girlhood Studies- a fast developing knowledge base that gives specific attention to the nuances of Black histories and futures through the eyes of Black girls. The voices of Black girls are often overlooked, underrepresented and undervalued in both the historical retelling and present day documentation of Black history/culture. To combat this, this course will discuss the lesser known stories of Black girls as organizers, leaders and change-makers and develop a deeper understanding of how Black girls have contributed to the very fabric of America. We will begin by building a foundation of understanding various social concepts and systems including misogynoir, colorism, adultification, safekeeping and healing and use these ideas to further understand the challenges Black girls have faced throughout history in present day. From there, we will use our budding knowledge to map out a call-to-action demanding protection, respect and inclusion for Black girls. Students will also be guided in documenting their personal journeys through journaling, photography and memory-making. This is a five week educational series that is rooted in 3 core beliefs: 1) Black girls are expanders of global knowledge as learners and creators of history, culture and change. 2) There should be an exchange of learning in the (virtual) classroom setting with respect and opportunity given to Black girls to share, unpack and understand the nuance and depth of their varied experiences. 3) All Black girls are change-makers, story tellers and worthy of documenting and sharing their experiences. Week 1: - The Intro (Intersectionality, Respectability, Adultification and Criminalization of Black Girls) / Foundations In Black Girlhood Studies / Colorism & Cultural Appropriation Week 2: Our Unsung: Mapping Black Girlhood History / 19th/20th Century Black Girlhood / The Story of Latasha Harlins: The LA Riots, Trayvon Martin and Tupac Week 3: #BlackGirlsMatter: Black Girls & State Sanctioned Violence / Pushout: School to Confinement Pathways / The Crown Act: Black Girls & Hair Love Week 4: Around The Way Girls: The Emergence of the Black ‘Girl Next Door’ (From Brandy to Raven Symone) / Y2K Black Girls and the fight for Pop Culture Inclusion / Black Girlhood and Culture Across the US Week 5 : Healing & Liberation: The Safekeeping of Black Girls / Black Girlhood Studies: An Academic Study, What's Your Change? / Final Presentations In each class session, we will begin by setting our intentions, creating a shared affirmation and reviewing the previous week for understanding. We will then move into the discussion of the week's topic utilizing in-depth discussion, Google slide presentations, and a discussion of our weekly reading. #BlackGirlMagic: Introduction to Black Girlhood Studies will be followed by #BlackGirlsMatter: Continuing Black Girlhood Studies for students who wish to dive deeper into Black girlhood studies and exploration.
Learning Goals
All are welcomed to attend! It is our hope that after engaging with this content, all students will be better equipped to center marginalized voices, specifically as it pertains to Black history and youth.
Other Details
Parental Guidance
Politically and culturally sensitive topics will be discussed each week of class with some topics being heavier than others. We will routinely approach highly sensitive topics including state-sanctioned violence, police brutality, criminality and systemic oppression. The course educator has undergone significant Diversity, Inclusion and Sensitivity trainings to properly support students in understanding and processing this information. Sessions where tough topics will emerge will be preceded by a content warning.
Google Drive/Classroom/Suite Apps: Google Drive & Classroom will only be used during our allotted class time, for the last 20-25 minutes of sessions 6-14 and the entirety of session 15. Student groups will collaborate on their final presentations during this time.
Quizlet: Students will utilize Quizlet to review important terms and definitions as they curate their final presentation.
Spotify: Students will be tasked with creating a shared playlist during sessions 1 & 2 of the course. The instructor will screen and organize the playlist and play it during class work periods.
YouTube: Pre-screened content from YouTube will be included in Google slide presentations presented to the class via screen-share.
The 2-4 hours of week outside of class are not to be spent working within Google Classroom/Suites, but to read & engage with the next session's assigned reading.
Supply List
· Notepad/Notebook: We're going to learn about key terms, definitions and topics that you'll want to keep track of. Using a notepad, notebook or dedicated writing space will help you keep track of your learning archive. · Required Reading: 1) The Black Kids by Christina Hammonds Reed 2) Dear Black Girl: Letters From Your Sisters on Stepping Into Your Power by Tamara Winfrey Harris 3) Unbossed: How Black Girls Are Leading the Way by Khristi Lauren Adams · Additional articles will be provided by the instructor, along with a printable PDF journal and syllabus.
Language of Instruction
English
Joined July, 2022
5.0
4reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
Morgan Jael is a graduate of Washington University in St Louis where she earned her Bachelors of Arts Degree in African/African American Studies and participated in the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Research Fellowship where she surveyed the cultural experiences contributions of Black girls in the southern landscape in the 19th and 20th century.
She is a history/social justice educator who has worked in both public and charter K-12 school spaces, with in-person and virtual experience. Her proudest moments as an educator include the successful creation and implementation of a social justice/history curriculum that led to her creating Black Girls Know Best, a community non-profit organization that amplifies Black girls voice through creative mediums. Most recently, she worked with the National Park Service's African American Civil Rights Network and Junior Ranger program, curating relevant and informative history content that supported the Network's growth.
Here on Outschool she offers a wide range of classes including 'The Civil Rights Movement and Black Foodways' and 'Black Girl Magic: Introduction to Black Girlhood Studies', amongst many others. 'Follow' her profile to stay to up to date on 2025 course listings.Reviews
Live Group Class
$45
weekly or $225 for 15 classes3x per week, 5 weeks
90 min
Live video meetings
Ages: 13-18
6-10 learners per class
