Black Oral Storytelling
Storytelling is a joyous act – for the teller and for the audience – even as it is used to openly speak hard truths in hidden ways. The Black storytelling tradition has been a tool for healing from racial trauma, ensuring that research and pedagogy illuminate and creatively address inequalities, imagining new futures, and engaging in joy as resistance. However, joy becomes so tied to resistance that it is difficult not to feel the weight of struggle. Is it possible that “joy for the sake of joy” can be a transformative act alongside “joy as resistance”? In what ways can myth-making within Black storytelling traditions be an intentional tool for resistance? Can the collective creation of unbelievable works of fiction by communities of Black liberation storytellers be a political act? What social impacts do actions that are “joy for the sake of joy” have when done in an intentionally justice-oriented community? Follow the unfolding project below.
Source: Brock DuPont
Research Design
The community of Black oral storytellers in New England and I will design a research project that supports community building, centers joy, is driven by a love ethic, and meets the needs identified by the community members.
This is not just open to people of the African diaspora. Anyone who practices the Black oral storytelling tradition is welcome to shape this project.
October Community Meeting
Date & Time:
Thursday, 23 October 2025 @ 6:30-8:00pm
Location:
Public Shop & Gallery (50 Agnes St Suite #101, Providence, RI 02909)
NOTE: If you want to be kept updated about the October Community Meeting, please fill out the form below.
Data Collection
The research team - made up of practitioners, academics, and other community members - will collect data in written, audio, and visual form. Check back here for more information.
Source: Christian Agbede
Data Analysis
The research team will collectively analyze the data using multiple methods. Check back here for more information.
Source: Desre Lanre-Ologun
Sharing Results
The results from the research will be progressively shared throughout the research project on both academic and public platforms. Check back for more in the future.
Source: Emediong Umoh