Dissertation Defense: Marsha Akoto

The College of Education has scheduled the final oral examination of Marsha Akoto for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling Psychology. The title of the dissertation is "An In-Depth Analysis of Black Adults’ Engagement with and Perspectives of the Black Lives Matter Movement across Different Ethnic Backgrounds.”
 

Over the past decades, Black Americans have experienced increased racial violence, resulting in a noticeable rise in psychological stress, racial trauma (race-based traumatic stress), and adverse psychosocial and physical health concerns. Engagement in activism can serve as a protective factor, promoting collective healing, yet may also contribute to heightened burnout and other challenges. The Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement addresses police brutality and anti-Black racism, emphasizing the impact of racism as a public health crisis, and focusing on mental well-being. Despite its significance, the movement has been met with varied support. To further understand patterns of involvement, perceptions, and support within U.S. Black communities, this study used a mixed-methods design to examine 206 responses from Black participants to three open-ended questions related to perceptions, attitudes, and involvement of the Black Lives Matter Movement. Grounded in an intersectionality framework, analyses explored differences across Black ethnic groups (i.e., African Americans, Afro-Caribbeans, and African immigrants) to examine differences in responses to BLM-related themes. Findings reveal that Black participants’ perspectives are centered on the BLM Movement as a necessary but contested vehicle for Black Liberation, the necessity of critical reflection, and psychological navigation, solidarity as negotiation, participation as a moral, affective obligation and capacity, psychological preservation influencing abstention and nuance in ambivalence. These findings highlight shared orientations and within-group distinctions in how BLM Movement meaning-making is navigated. Critical implications for researchers, counseling psychologists, clinicians, community advocates, and educators are discussed.