Black women and girls experience the world through both their race and their gender simultaneously. These identities are deeply connected and shaped by history, culture, and systems of power. However, society often looks at race and gender separately, which means the full experiences, strengths, needs, and dreams of Black women and girls are often overlooked.

In Homeplace: A Site of Resistance, bell hooks describes how Black women create loving, supportive spaces for their families despite facing racism and sexism. Black women care not only for their own children, but also play major roles in leading social and educational movements that support the wellbeing of all children. Yet the everyday work and wisdom of Black women often go unseen. We know very little about how Black mothers pass down cultural values, life lessons, and identity-shaping knowledge to their daughters through storytelling—a long-standing and powerful tradition in Black communities.

This study centers the voices of Black mothers and daughters. By listening to and documenting the stories they share, the study explores how history, culture, social experiences, and larger systems shape how Black girls understand themselves and who they are becoming.