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Kenesma D. John, Ph.D.

Underground Railroad Project Coordinator

African American Studies Department

College of Liberal Arts & Sciences

University of Florida

Email:

Kenesma.john@gmail.com

Browse my academic work dedicated to amplifying voices and experiences that matter.

Publications

Troutman, A., Brown, T. T., De La Cruz, S., Oladejo, O. A., & John, K. D. (2026). Radical reimaginings: Black girlhood, feminist praxis, and arts-based inquiry in a university–school collaboration[Special issue]. Frontiers.

John, K. D. (2025). I Am More Than My Hair: A Closer Look at Black Girls' Hair Experiences (Doctoral dissertation, University of Florida).

This video highlights how they define themselves, build community, and explore identity, mental health, and liberation through storytelling and creative expression. It reframes feminist research by positioning the girls as co-researchers and cultural producers, resisting deficit narratives and centering their lived experiences and visions for the future.

This qualitative case study delved into the realm of hair identity, focusing on Black girls. The study aimed to unravel the complexities surrounding hair identity, highlighting how it impacts these individuals’ educational experiences and self-esteem of these individuals.

John, K. D., Brown, T. T., & Bennett, E. S. (2024). Brown skin girl: Mapping negotiations of colorism, digital resistance, and Black girlhood. Journal of Educational Studies and Multidisciplinary Approaches, 4(1).

This study delves into the intricate relationship between the symbolic representation of skin color in virtual avatars and its profound impact on people's self-value within American society.