In this talk, Dr. April-Louise M. Pennant explores the educational journeys of Black British girls and women, weaving together personal narratives, sociological theory, and creative storytelling. Drawing from her research and her book Babygirl, You’ve Got This!: Experiences of Black Girls and Women in the English Education System (2024), she interrogates how race, gender, class, and cultural identity intersect to shape experiences within the English education system.

Through composite characters like Shamari and Yaa , she illustrates the intergenerational impact of systemic inequities and the resilience strategies developed in response. The talk challenges dominant narratives of meritocracy and success, offering a vision of education that is inclusive, empowering, and reparative.

Dr. Pennant invites educators, policymakers, and community leaders to reflect on whose stories are centred in curricula, whose voices are heard in classrooms, and how we can co-create spaces of belonging and justice. Her message is clear: education must not only inform—it must liberate.