Dear Black Child: A Discussion on the Formation of Identity for African Diasporic Adolescents in the U.S.

Author

Sokhnagade B. Ndiaye, The Graduate Center, City University of New YorkFollow

Date of Degree

6-2020

Document Type

Capstone Project

Degree Name

M.A.

Program

Liberal Studies

Advisor

Carrie Hintz

Subject Categories

African American Studies | Africana Studies | American Popular Culture | Art and Design | Education

Keywords

Diaspora, United States, Adolescents, White Supremacy, Black

Abstract

In this capstone project, I am using art, photography, and music to depict the experiences of African diasporic youth in the United States. I will explore the white supremacist systems that contribute to the anxiety that comes with being a black child in America. In this project, I plan to discuss the ways in which African diasporic adolescents develop their identity and consciousness and the ways in which living in American society helps and/or hinders the development of this identity and consciousness. I argue that living in the United States forces black youth to form double and triple consciousnesses, which in turn affects the ways in which they form their identities. I am presenting a blog site that gathers photos to illustrate the black experience in the eyes of the youth. I also include poems and song lyrics that correlate with the pictures. I use art from artists living on the continent of Africa, and the United States. I wanted to include the African continent as well as various places in the diaspora because this will help me focus on black youth that were born and raised in the United States as well as youth with families that have immigrated to the U.S. and are trying to discover their American identity.

Comments

Online component: https://sokhnan.tumblr.com/

Recommended Citation

Ndiaye, Sokhnagade B., "Dear Black Child: A Discussion on the Formation of Identity for African Diasporic Adolescents in the U.S." (2020). CUNY Academic Works.
https://academicworks.cuny.edu/gc_etds/3873