ABSTRACT
This study examines two types of digital practices that young adolescent Black girls in an urban context participate in both in school and out of school. One hundred and fifty girls and boys completed a survey for an explanatory sequential mixed methods study. The results of this study indicate that, despite the extensive use of digital media practices by both male and female students, girls tend to consume digital media at a higher rate, whereas boys are more likely to create/produce media for themselves (and others). The girls’ consumer approach to digital media may impact their long-term approach to digital and technological use. This study suggests that opportunities, rather than options, for creator/producer learning are important to advance Black girls’ active involvement in, knowledge of, and larger engagement with agentive purposes for learning. Further application and explication of the digital literacies is examined in the urban middle in-school context with a social justice project that incorporates essential design parts to engage Black girls in the learning process of humanizing digital media.
