EXPLORING THE INFLUENCE OF DRAMATIC ARTS ON UNDEREXAMINED LITERACIES: EXPERIENCES OF BLACK GIRLS IN AN URBAN MIDDLE SCHOOL

This study examined the influence of drama participation on foundational, digital, and Black Girls’ literacies of Black girls in an urban middle school. This case study used the Culturally Relevant Arts Education framework with Black Feminist Thought epistemology to address the following research questions: What are the experiences of middle school Black girls who participate in drama classes in relation to language, identity, and social media engagement? What perceptions do drama teachers have of urban middle school Black girls who participate in drama classes as they address language, identity, and social media engagement? Purposive criterion sampling was used to recruit participants for this study. Semi-structured interviews and a focus group were conducted with five Black females; four participants were middle school students who attended Stonybrook School (pseudonym), and one participant was a teacher who taught at the school. The findings of the study suggest that Black girls who participated in drama 1) Experienced enhanced foundational language, 2) Acquired a more positive racial identity, and 3) Demonstrated effective management of social media engagement. Additional findings suggest that the Black female drama teacher perceives Black middle school girls as mature enough to successfully navigate academics, identity, and social media engagement through practicing drama activities, despite the race and gender challenges they face. The findings from this study help inform educational practices, policies, and research aimed at improving outcomes for Black girls in urban middle schools.