Blessed Positionality

What might research become if it began with reverence for Black women’s lives? This book explores how Black women and girls―when centered as both researchers and the researched―reshape the norms, ethics, and methodologies of qualitative inquiry. Blessed Positionality (BP) is introduced as a relevant approach to the theoretical and methodological possibilities for better capturing Black Womanhood. The approach employed in this volume is deeply interdisciplinary, drawing on Black feminist theory, Africana epistemologies, and decolonial and ceremonial research traditions. While grounded in qualitative research, the book resists rigid disciplinary boundaries, weaving together theory, praxis, and reflection through essays, thought pieces, and applied research contributions from scholars across education, counseling, health, and cultural studies. Rather than offering a prescriptive model, the book invites readers into a long-standing conversation.

Dadria R. Lewis is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Burman University, where she previously served as the chair of the Psychology Department for 4 years. She has a passion for promoting wellness in families and communities, and her teaching and research interests include the areas of children and families, school-family-community collaboration, social justice advocacy, and multiculturalism.

Charisse Southwell is an equity evaluator and mixed-methods researcher grounded in Afro-Caribbean traditions. Her work bridges pragmatic inquiry, Black feminist thought, and liberatory evaluation across nonprofit and community settings. She is passionate about decolonial praxis and systemic change efforts.

Cirecie A. West-Olatunji, CEO of CRESTSprogram, LLC, is founding director of CTSR and past president of ACA and AMCD. An ACA Fellow, she researches trauma and systemic oppression. She’s published widely and presented globally across Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas.