“Black At”: A Study of Black Girls in Predominantly White Independent K–12 Girls’ Schools

Abstract

The summer of 2020 saw millions of people take to the streets and social media in protest of systemic racism as a result of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd’s murders. One particular type of protest came in the form of “Black at [insert institution name]” Instagram accounts, which exposed racism against Black students at schools and universities. This movement began with accounts created by affiliates of independent girls’ schools in New York City. As such, this study utilizes qualitative methods to examine the experiences of Black girl students at independent girls’ schools in New York City. To do so, this study assessed “Black at” Instagram account posts from five New York City independent girls’ schools to better understand the impact that predominantly White schools have had on Black girls. Black alumnae of these schools were interviewed to gain insight into their personal experiences as Black girls, their perceptions of Black girls’ experiences in predominantly White girls’ schools, and their recommendations for better supporting Black girls moving forward.