UVA Untold: Black Women’s Narratives at the University of Virginia

Working and Writing for Change

Series Editors: Steve Parks and Jessica Pauszek

Parlor Press and New City Community Press

UVA Untold: Black Women’s Narratives at The University of Virginia offers exclusive insight into the experiences of Black undergraduate women from across the African diaspora at one of America’s most elite and historical institutions of higher education. While their stories acknowledge covert and explicit misogynoir and racism experienced on UVA grounds and beyond, the narratives also show how these women view themselves and how Black women and Black students at UVA build communities of care and support amongst one another, all of which directly subverts the quintessential White depiction of the college experience while also highlighting the thriving communities of Black students and organizations on UVA grounds that add to the brilliance of UVA as an institution.

＂UVA Untold is profoundly timely, particularly as we find ourselves in a post-election America, where once again, we have witnessed the nation overlook not only the brilliance of women in general, but the exceptional contributions of a woman of color-one who identifies as both Indian and Black, and who embodies the very essence of ＂Black girl magic.＂ After reading Butler’s work and reflecting on the current political climate, the invisibility, lack of belonging and ＂othering＂ of which these Black women shared in Untold, remains painfully evident. In a society that consistently marginalizes their voices, Black women continue to be the least heard, the least protected, and one of the most vulnerable demographics in the United States of America.

What makes Butler’s work so impactful is that it provides a tangible resource for Black women to point to, a space where their voices and experiences are validated, without requiring them to constantly educate or fight against the tide when they are already worn thin. In this way, UVA Untold serves not only as a testament to the resilience of Black women but also as a powerful tool for change-one that allows them to be seen and heard on their own terms.＂