Leveraging the Intersection: Understanding Black Queer Mentorship for BlackQueer Youth

/in /by

Webb, J. M. (2025). Educational cultural visionaries: how BlackQueer adults mentor, embrace, and love on BlackQueer youth. International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education, 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1080/09518398.2025.2470935

Introduction

Javania Michelle Webb (2025) provides a critical examination of the role that BlackQueer adults (BQA) play in mentoring BlackQueer youth (BQY). Her study addresses a significant gap in research concerning the support systems available to BQY, particularly in educational and community settings. 

Methods 

Webb uses interviews and focus groups to gain an in-depth understanding of the experiences of BlackQueer mentors who have dedicated their careers and personal lives to mentoring BQY. Member checking was used to ensure accuracy and authenticity in representing the voices of the participants.

Results 

Findings from the study introduce the concept of “Educational Cultural Visionaries” (ECVs) – BlackQueer adults who serve as mentors and advocates for BQY in various capacities. These ECVs provide support through:

  • Otherparenting: Participants often take on familial roles, such as “othermothers” or “otherfathers,” to provide guidance, protection, and emotional support to BQY. This extends beyond traditional mentorship and into kinship-like relationships that are vital for youth who may lack familial acceptance.
  • Cultural Competency: ECVs leverage their own lived experiences to provide culturally responsive mentorship that affirms BlackQueer identities. They employ harm reduction approaches, provide resources for mental health support, and actively work to dismantle cisheteronormative expectations in educational and community settings.
  • Creating Safe Spaces: Whether through school programs, after-school initiatives, or community organizations, ECVs are committed to cultivating environments where BQY feel seen, heard, and valued.
  • Policy Advocacy: Some ECVs engage in broader efforts to challenge institutional barriers that disproportionately harm BQY, advocating for inclusive policies within schools and youth programs.

Discussion 

The study highlights the essential role that BlackQueer adults play in fostering resilience and leadership among BQY. Findings also point to the necessity of institutional recognition and support for these mentoring relationships, as the burden of mentorship often falls on individual actors rather than being systematically integrated into educational or social service structures.

Implications for Mentoring Programs

  • Providing training for mentors on culturally responsive practices and the specific challenges faced by BQY.
  • Encouraging schools and youth organizations to actively recruit BlackQueer mentors who can provide lived-experience guidance.
  • Developing policies that explicitly protect and uplift BlackQueer identities in educational and community spaces.

Find Dr. Webb’s paper here