Reflections at the Waterhole: Black Professionals Researching Together

Abstract

This paper tells the story of how I came to understanding my practice and my research by means of a metaphor, that of the waterhole. I demonstrate how the ideas contained below have great resonances with the concept of practice nearness. In the process I recount the story of my reflective practices and my research with other black professionals to inquire into our experiences in white organisations and to give voice to our lived experiences.

Keywords:

• black professionals
• professional development
• black academics
• practice-near research

Notes

¹ Ani Wierenga is a research fellow at the Australian Youth Research Centre, University of Melbourne.