A Community of Narratives

Abstract

The story presented here developed from a study group where we found space to explore and analyze ourselves and each other. In recounting our development from a Community of Interest to a Community of Practice (CoP), we first introduce a guiding theoretical framework building on a foundation of two concepts: CoP and transracialized selves. We then present a series of alternating methods and findings, reflecting our development through two phases. We recount the formation of our group and the decision to develop individual narratives; the findings from these methods are presented as six narratives recounting individual wrestlings with our racialized selves. We then describe our methods for analyzing these narratives as a group and conclude with the findings from that communal analysis. We close with implications for others who might find a similar process valuable.