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The Life History Method: Studying People Of African Descent

Description

For far too long, research on Black communities has been shaped by Eurocentric methodologies that overlook the complexity, resilience, and cultural knowledge embedded in Black lived experiences. The Life History Method: Studying People of African Descent presents a rigorous, decolonized research framework that empowers faculty and students to engage in ethical, contextually grounded scholarship that centers Black voices and epistemologies.

Rooted in the traditions of Black storytelling, this book challenges conventional research paradigms by positioning life history not just as a method but as an emancipatory tool—one that acknowledges the impact of colonialism, slavery, and systemic oppression on knowledge production. By offering a step-by-step guide to designing, conducting, and mobilizing life history research, this text equips scholars with the necessary tools to critically engage with narratives of Black individuals and communities while fostering epistemic justice.

For faculty, this volume provides an essential teaching resource, offering a research model that aligns with decolonial scholarship and Black Studies methodologies. It allows for the mentoring of students in rigorous, ethically responsible research practices that recognize the agency and lived realities of Black participants.

For students, it serves as a foundational guide for conducting life history research that moves beyond extractive data collection, promoting deep engagement with cultural knowledge, memory, and identity. The book introduces methodological strategies for handling sensitive narratives, managing large datasets, and ensuring findings are communicated ethically and effectively.

At a time when research institutions are being called to confront their colonial legacies and embrace diverse ways of knowing, The Life History Method provides a necessary intervention. It is an essential text for those committed to producing scholarship that does not merely document Black lives but affirms, contextualizes, and uplifts them.

This book goes beyond research to reclaiming narrative authority and reshaping the future of Black academic inquiry. Watch Dr. Kakuru’s video for more insights

Authors and Contributors

Doris Kakuru, Ph.D.

Doris Kakuru, PhD is a professor of Child and Youth Care at the University of Victoria. She is Canadian scholar of African descent, born and raised in Uganda. She holds a PhD in Social Sciences (Wageningen University, the Netherlands), a Master of Philosophy in Social Anthropology (University of Bergen, Norway), and a Bachelors (Hons) in Sociology (Makerere University, Uganda). Her research program falls in the broad area of children’s geographies. She is a renowned scholar in the field of critical African girlhood studies. Her scholar-activist work aims to dismantle discriminatory and oppressive child and youth policies and practices in global contexts and critiques Eurowestern ways of knowledge creation and mobilization. Her research takes on social justice, anti-oppressive, and decolonial perspectives and sheds light on how ongoing struggles for equity are rooted in how racial and colonial legacies intersect with contemporary structures. She predominantly conducts qualitative research and utilizes the life history method. She teaches research literacy to undergraduate students and Decolonial, critical, and justice-oriented theories related to child and youth care to graduate students. In 2023, Kakuru received Canada’s highest academic honour as a member of the Royal Society of Canada. She is the Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Child Youth and Family Studies. She is also an adjunct research professor at Carleton University’s Institute of African Studies and a member of the Canadian Association of African Studies. The book will offer valuable insights into using the life history method to explore Black and people of African descent.

Author profile

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