Exploring the Experiences of Hope among Young Black British Female Adult Racial Justice Activists
Melanie J Gentles and Dr Ceri Sims
Citation: Gentles, M. J., & Sims, C. (2025). Exploring the Experiences of Hope among Young Black British Female Adult Racial Justice Activists. European Journal of Applied Positive Psychology, 9, 4, 1-15. https://www.nationalwellbeingservice.org/volumes/volume-9-2025/volume-9-article-4/
Processing dates: Submitted 24 January 2024; Resubmitted 3 December 2024; Accepted 12 December 2024; Published 14 June 2025
Abstract
Background/Aims/Objectives: This study investigates the nature of hope among young Black British racial justice activists participating in Black Lives Matter protests following George Floyd’s killing. It explores how their experiences align with or diverge from Snyder’s (1994) hope theory, which highlights agency and pathways, and the role of emotions in sustaining activism, while also examining hope’s role in driving individual and collective action against racial injustice.
Methods/Methodology: Semi-structured interviews with three Black British female Black Lives Matter leaders were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) to explore their lived experiences and perceptions of hope in their activism.
Results: Three key themes emerged: “Hope as post-traumatic recovery and growth,” highlighting hope as a coping mechanism for racial trauma; “The emotions of activism,” revealing the emotional complexities of engaging in racial justice activism; and “Spreading hope for a better future through education,” emphasizing the role of education in fostering hope and inspiring change.
Discussion: The findings highlight hope as a future-oriented force helping activists overcome racial trauma and embrace their racial identity. While their experiences align with Snyder’s hope
theory, the study reveals the critical role of emotions, such as anger, in motivating activism. It suggests broadening Snyder’s framework to incorporate social and emotional dimensions like
psychosocial support, connectedness and community efficacy.
Conclusions: Hope, driven by positive and negative emotions, fosters resilience and motivation in racial justice activism, emphasising the importance of psychosocial support and education to
inspire transformative change.
Keywords: Black activists, hope, racial justice, activism, racism
Biographies
Melanie J Gentles holds a Master’s degree in Applied Positive Psychology from Buckinghamshire New University, UK. Her research explores the lived experiences of individuals who identify as Black and their pursuit of a more just society through the lens of positive psychology. She is interested in how hope functions as a psychological resource, fostering resilience, wellbeing and personal growth within diverse cultural contexts.
Email: melanie.gentles@hotmail.co.uk
https://orcid.org/0009-0001-0745-5097
Dr Ceri Sims is Associate Professor, Course Co-Leader for MSc Applied Positive Psychology, at the School of Human and Social Sciences, Buckinghamshire New University, High Wycombe, HP11 2JZ, UK.
Email: ceri.sims@bnu.ac.uk
Web: https://www.bucks.ac.uk/
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0972-6268