UndocuJoy as Resistance: Beyond Gloom and Doom Narratives of Undocumented Collegians

Abstract

Abstract: This narrative inquiry study examined how Black and non-Black Mexican undocumented collegians use joy as resistance to navigate their lives while in college. A lack of published empirical research explores how these collegians experience and embrace joy despite navigating barriers, such as anti-im/migrant exclusionary policies and racist nativist sociopolitical and campus climates. Our findings revealed their joyful experiences with biological and chosen family and communal and artistic joy. Recommendations for research and practice are provided for higher education actors at all levels.