Description
Book SynopsisHow do Black women in higher education create, experience, and understand joy? What sustains them? While scholars have long documented sexism, racism, and classism in the academy, one topic has been conspicuously absent from the literature—how Black women academics have found joy in the midst of adversity. Moving beyond questions of resilience, labor for others, and coping,
When Will the Joy Come? focuses on the journeys of over thirty Black women at various stages of their careers.
Joy is a mixture of well-being, pleasure, alignment, and purpose that can be elusive for Black women scholars. With racial reckoning and a global pandemic as context, this volume brings together honest and vital essays that ponder how Black women balance fatigue and frustrations in the halls of the ivory tower, and explore where, when, and if joy enters their lives. By carefully contemplating the emotional, physical, and material consequences of their labor, this collection demonstrates that joy is a tactical and strategic component of Black women’s struggle.
Trade ReviewThe focus on joy makes this collection indispensable among books that consider Black women and women of color in higher education. Readable and engaging,
When Will the Joy Come? makes a significant contribution to the intersecting fields of women’s studies, African American studies, and higher education administration."—Shanna Greene Benjamin, author of
Half in Shadow: The Life and Legacy of Nellie Y. McKay"The contributors to
When Will the Joy Come? offer personal perspectives on the multiple meanings of ‘joy’ for Black women working within the academy. A timely, compelling book."—Carole Boyce Davies, author of
Black Women's Rights: Leadership and the Circularities of Power
