Shades of Brown

I am Because We Are

Abstract

Sexual assault is an epidemic that disproportionately affects Black women. Yet, despite this reality, on a systemic level, healing after experiencing sexual assault is an issue of racial equity. Many scholars take a race-evasive, individualized, and psychological approach to healing that silence and eclipse the lived experiences of Black women. Therefore, this study acts as a counterstory to talk back to the narrative of “sameness” that pushes a White women pattern of healing and promotes the erasure of students who identify as Black ciswomen in the literature. The purpose of this basic qualitative study is to explore how Black college cis women engage in healing after experiences with sexual assault. The inquiry and data were approached and analyzed from a critical theoretical framework, specifically, Critical Race Theory, Intersectionality, and Black Feminist Thought. Findings can inform scholars and education professionals to consider and center the healing needs of Black cis women.