Radical hope in revolting times: Proposing a culturally relevant psychological framework

Abstract

Growing research supports the link between individual expressions of hope and psychological well‐being. In this paper, we draw on psychological theories of hope, racial and ethnic studies, and the literature on radical healing to propose a framework of radical hope. Although the proposed multidimensional framework integrates cultural practices of People of Color in the United States, it is flexible enough to be adapted to other contexts. The paper begins by providing a brief review of the literature that conceptualizes the concept of hope in the field of psychology as a prelude to comparing the concept to the interdisciplinary notion of radical hope. Based on this body of work, we then introduce a culturally relevant psychological framework of radical hope, which includes the components of collective memory as well as faith and agency. Both components require an orientation to one of four directions including individual orientation, collective orientation, past orientation, and future orientation. The framework also consists of pathways individuals can follow to experience radical hope including (a) understanding the history of oppression along with the actions of resistance taken to transform these conditions, (b) embracing ancestral pride, (c) envisioning equitable possibilities, and (d) creating meaning and purpose in life by adopting an orientation to social justice. We conclude with a proposed research agenda for radical hope.

Beyond comparisons: The complexity and context‐dependency of collective victim beliefs

“…First, the finding that various ways of defocusing collective victimhood were among the most frequent codes among all samples shows that the assumption of collective victimization as a central concern to group members is problematic (Leach, 2020). As suggested by the code “alternatives of victimhood,” research on collective victim beliefs should also routinely assess perceptions of the group's resilience and strength, resistance, and survival (Jeong & Vollhardt, 2020; Mosley et al., 2020; Vollhardt & Nair, 2018; Quayle & Sonn, 2019). Some participants criticized the ingroup's or researchers’ preoccupation with its victimization, urging us also to consider other aspects of their history and culture.…”

Toward radical healing: A qualitative metasynthesis exploring oppression and liberation among Black queer people.

“…Finally, Black queer communities engage with personal, collective, and ancestral survival mechanisms to conceptualize and implement resistance strategies as well as maintain a commitment to their visions for a world free of White supremacy and heterosexism (Harper et al, 2019; Meyer, 2014; Mosley et al, 2020; Okello et al, 2020). For example, research suggests that many Black queer individuals utilize religious and spiritual belief systems and practices (e.g., church membership) in order to develop and maintain a sense of resiliency, connect with their collectives, and learn strategies to resist oppression (Dangerfield et al, 2019; Garrett-Walker & Torres, 2017; Lassiter, Brewer, & Wilton, 2020).…”

“People Are Demanding Justice”: Pandemics, Protests, and Remote Learning Through the Eyes of Immigrant Youth of Color

“…In the second half of the alumni’s ninth grade year, we were interviewing, vlogging, completing surveys, making films, and loving/hating/transferring from our high schools. Since COVID-19 hit, and our lockdown, we have conducted 48 additional interviews on zoom with our peers about their experiences of the pandemic, racial uprisings, and online learning to understand how race, immigration status, class, and circumstance affect our physical and mental health, our educational possibilities, our relationship to protests and Black Lives Matter (BLM), our views of police, our activisms, and our sense of radical hope (Mosley & colleagues, 2019).…”

“…Our conceptual framework draws from a range of critical race theorists, writing on Black hope, Latinx epistemologies, and indigenous ethics. Mosley and colleagues’ (2019) writings on “radical hope” sit in conversation with Ginwright and Cammarota’s (2002) commitment to consciousness and healing, and Fernandez and Langhout’s (2014) re-crafting of “community” through the eyes of residents and neighbors. In our project, we designed an intergenerational, youth-led exploration of community, through a lens of racialized oppression and resistance, appreciative of diasporic roots, the vibrant forms of mutual aid sprouting up throughout the Heights, and the freedom dreams narrated by young people of color bearing witness to collective rage and desire throughout the nation (Adams-Wiggins & Taylor-Garcia, 2020).…”