Ms. Amaria Porter

Born in Chicago, Illinois, Amaria is a recent graduate of Agua Fria High School and is 18 years old. Currently, Amaria is attending South Mountain Community College, studying Secondary Education with an emphasis on History. Amaria is navigating college life while also supporting others and learning as she goes. During her junior year of high school, she became co-historian of BSU. Then, in her senior year, she became BSU vice president. Amaria worked diligently to make a living legacy for Black students attending Agua Fria High School.

Solidifying Black Student Union’s Presence on Campus: High School Alumni’s Critical Autoethnographic Reflections

To disrupt anti-Blackness on K12 campuses, scholars speak to the critical need of Black Education Spaces (BES) (Bridgeforth, 2024; Bell and Sealey-Ruiz, 2023). This workshop addresses a gap: how young people’s voices are centered in critically forming Black Education Spaces as centers for Black brilliance, healing, and academic well-being. We contribute to the critical discourse on how high school students, who experienced increasing bans on Critical Race Theory and Social-Emotional Learning, organized events, expressed their cultural needs, and advocated on behalf of other Black students. Drawing from Black Feminist theory, this critical autoethnographic inquiry illustrates the trials and tribulations of one Black Student Union (BSU) club and their white club advisor, in building a culture of community and care. This workshop highlights the profound impact BES had on students' high school journeys and need for BES to not only resist but also reimagine Black educational futures.