Ms. Ziza Young

Born in St. Louis, Missouri and raised in Texas, Ziza Young is a recent graduate of Ridge Point High School and is 19 years old. Currently, Ziza is taking a gap year to evaluate her collegiate options that align with her film and theater interests. Ziza’s passion for film was ignited when she relocated to Arizona. Ziza participated in a film class for two years, which allowed her to explore the world of editing from a new point of view. During her junior year of high school, Ziza participated in the Black Student Union at Agua Fria High School, aiming to build connections with my fellow Black students.

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.