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The Life History Method: Studying People Of African Descent

Description

The life history method is a qualitative research approach that collects and analyzes detailed personal histories to explore individual experiences within broader social, cultural, and historical contexts. Historically rooted in anthropological studies of non-industrialized societies, this method has evolved to emphasize the value of personal storytelling, particularly within communities that have faced oppression, such as people of African descent. This book critically addresses the application of life history research through the lens of Black/African Studies, with an emphasis on decolonization, epistemic justice, and culturally relevant practices. It acknowledges the colonial history of ethnographic research, where early scholars often marginalized the voices of the subjects they studied. It offers an emancipatory framework for understanding Black life histories as not merely data but as sacred tools of cultural transmission.

Part of The Little Black Book Series on Research Methods for the African Diaspora, this book provides a practical guide for scholars and researchers on conducting life history research with Black communities, focusing on ethical and contextually grounded methodologies in Black cultural traditions. Dr. Kakuru explains the research process from designing projects to data collection, analysis, and knowledge dissemination, offering insights into the role of reflexivity, ethical considerations, and the significance of cultural practices in data management. Through five comprehensive chapters, this work challenges the dominant, Eurocentric methodologies of life history research. It proposes new, transformative approaches that empower Black participants and dismantle oppressive systems of knowledge production.

The Life History Method is an essential resource for anyone looking to engage with the life history method through an inclusive, decolonial perspective that respects and amplifies the lived experiences of people of African descent.

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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