Navigating Black Joy for Black Women Leaders in Higher Education: Spaces for Authentic Freedom

Navigating Black Joy for Black Women Leaders in Higher Education delves into lived experiences of Black women who resist structural oppression and inequity through the radical act of joy. Through deeply personal narratives, critical storytelling, and intersectional analysis, chapters explore how Black women cultivate, sustain, and embody joy as a transformative force in higher education and beyond. Drawing on phenomenology, womanist theory, and culturally relevant pedagogy, contributors reveal how joy is intentionally rooted in resistance, resilience, and rest, forming a tapestry of strength and community, offering actionable strategies for fostering emotional resilience, equity, and authentic leadership.