Spiritual Activism as a Means for Social Transformation: Womanist and Chicana Feminist Possibilities

ABSTRACT

In the wake of Trump’s presidency, children of color have been increasingly subjected to overt racism in and outside of educational settings. After seeing “In light of the Trump effect” or the anxiety and fear that has ensued for children of color since Trump’s pre-election campaign, we suggest that concerted actions are needed from often untapped sources that cross human-centric boundaries such as spiritual activism. We contend that we must rethink human-more-than-human binaries, while simultaneously working towards equity and social justice. Womanist and Chicana feminist spirituality de-centers the human, while providing a means to transform oppressive conditions. In this theoretical wondering, we posit that spiritual activism is vital to the well-being of young children of color and the broader world.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1. By spiritual brokenness, we are suggesting that we are at a point of segmentation with each other, the land, and Otherbeings, and not acknowledging that all are connected.

2. Common Worlds Research Collective (2020) explains that “the notion of common worlds is an inclusive, more than human notion. It helps us to avoid the divisive distinction that is often drawn between human societies and natural environments” (p. 1).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Michelle Salazar Pérez

Michelle Salazar Pérez is an associate professor of Early Childhood Education in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at The University of Texas, Austin. She uses women of color feminisms to inform her community collaborations, research, and pedagogy in early childhood studies. These perspectives not only critically orient her work, but also foreground the urgency to re-envision the field to support culturally sustaining practices and programs for minoritized young children. Her work has been published in Teachers College Record, Contemporary Issues in Early Childhood, and Review of Research in Education.

Cinthya M. Saavedra

Cinthya M. Saavedra is a professor, Program Director of Mexican American Studies, and Associate Dean of Interdisciplinary Programs and Community Engagement at The University of Texas, Rio Grande Valley. Her research centers Chicana/Latina feminist epistemology in educational research, critical methodologies such as testimonios, pláticas, and critical reflexivity. Her work has been published in Review of Research in Education, Equity & Excellence in Education, the International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education, and TESOL Quarterly.