Black Youth Reading for Pleasure in Alternative Spaces

Bibliographic Data

ID12969229
AuthorsJanet Seow (Humber College, corresponding author)
Year2025
Volume17
Issue1
Pages66-84
Publication date2025-06-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueJeunesse Young People Texts Cultures (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1920-2601 • E-ISSN: 1920-261X
PublisherUniversity of Toronto Press Inc. (UTPress) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.3138/jeunesse-2024-0004
OpenAlexW4412558809
LanguageEN
References cited29

Limited research is available on what Black youth in Toronto read for pleasure and the impact of intersectionality on their lives and the choices they make. Studies that focus on Black texts usually highlight trend analysis and the limited availability of books that promote diversity. This article offers a unique perspective on an important subcultural group and their engagement with texts for pleasure reading, and it is based on qualitative participatory research conducted with a small group of Black youth aged sixteen to twenty-five in Toronto, Canada. Methods include semi-structured interviews, photos, artwork, surveys and participant observation. Data was analyzed using textual analysis. The research reveals that the strategies Black nerds (Blerds) use to negotiate their participation in youth subcultures and Black culture not only situate them in alternative spaces but gives a unique perspective on notions of diversity, inclusivity, and Black youth lived experiences in Toronto

Linguistics · Pleasure · Psychotherapist · Reading (process · Sociology · Critical Race Theory in Education · Literacy, Media, and Education · Philosophy · Psychology

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