Black Girl Magic Course Combines Context, Culture and Critical Analysis
Meet Meadow Fuller '25
- Major/Program
- Forensic Science
- Minor
- Biological Sciences and Chemistry
- College Activities
- Black Student Union, Forensics Club and Federal Work Study
- Hometown
- Philadelphia, Pa.
- High School
- Arts Academy at Benjamin Rush High School
- Now Living In
- Pittsburgh, Pa.
- Dream Job
- Forensic pathologist
- Hobbies & Interests
- Reading, drawing and playing Sims 4
"This course has me thinking even more critically than I did before, and I am grateful for it. It is important to think about the media you consume, and this course instilled that within me. It also reignited my love for the works of Toni Morrison, which is fantastic."
Meadow Fuller '25 believes one of the key benefits of a Point Park University education is the flexibility to explore courses outside of her major.
A senior studying forensic science in the School of Arts & Sciences, Fuller loved reading plays weekly for a theatre history course and was fascinated by Professor Bethany Morris' teaching style in a psychology course.
Most recently, Fuller rekindled her passion for reading in Black Girl Magic, a multi-genre, multicultural literary studies course taught by Assistant Professor Tahirah Walker, Ph.D. The course explored the meaning of Black women in literary arts and culture and examined seminal and popular works through a variety of perspectives.
"This course has me thinking even more critically than I did before, and I am grateful for it," Fuller said. "It is important to think about the media you consume, and this course instilled that within me. It also reignited my love for the works of Toni Morrison, which is fantastic."
The course, designed by former Dean Josie Brown, Ph.D., kicked off with "Well-Read Black Girl" by Glory Edim, an authors-on-authors collection that demonstrates the power of the literary world for Black girls and women, Dr. Walker said.
"I also wanted the course to be an inclusive space so we looked across the African diaspora and made sure we talked about the gender expansive and transwomen who contribute to Black Girl Magic ethos," she said.
They built discussions around two key ideas.
"One, literature is all around you and not only in books, and two, while Black Girl Magic is a beautiful way to approach reading the world around you, Black girls and women are human beings, and we needed to make sure we were not mythologizing real experiences," Dr. Walker said. "We read and discussed the work of a wide range of authors including Phillis Wheatley, Octavia Butler, Maryse Condé, Megan Thee Stallion and Deesha Philyaw."
Hands-on activities included creating collages, zines and visual art pieces based on the coursework.
"We were able to create a community of learning where we shared power and gave each other space to shine," Dr. Walker said.
In the Q&A below, learn about Fuller's takeaways and her overall Point Park experience.
What did you enjoy about the class?
I looked forward to our discussions about the texts we read. I was genuinely excited to sit and talk about what we were reading because the environment had a casual comfortability that was so inviting. No pressure, just a safe space to share our innermost thoughts. Our discussions were guided yet open-ended. We connected our thoughts back to concepts we explored in previous discussions. It was like a-ha moments on top of a-ha moments. It was so much fun, we would end up staying past the class time because we wanted to talk about the texts more. I have never enjoyed reading as much as I did in that class.
For example, we talked a lot about Toni Morrison's work, especially "Beloved." I love that text, so when we had the opportunity to read the second book in that trilogy, "Jazz," I was, of course, jazzed! It touched me in such a profound way that I think about it daily. Reading it in Dr. Walker's class gave me a significant appreciation for it, so much so that I bought the next book in the trilogy. I was like, "I need to keep this momentum!"
What did you like about Dr. Walker's teaching approach?
She didn't just level with us – she was already seeing us. With any question or issue, she was there to help us. All students to some degree have dread when we walk into a class, like we have to say something profound or perfectly edited. There was no feeling of dread. Her class was like having a conversation, but we didn't have to worry if our thoughts weren't all the way there. We got there together.
What are some of your key takeaways from this experience?
Perspective is key. So much of what we digested was nuanced. Oftentimes, understanding that nuance from our perspective alone would not suffice. Rather than just considering the author and the audience, the historical context in tandem with our perspective were required to unpack everything we were absorbing.
Be mindful of all walks of life and all aspects of life. This course has given me a toolbox of skills to help me tackle heavy topics. As an aspiring forensic pathologist, that practice is necessary for me. In forensics, the work is calculated and scientific, but real people are involved. I have to take that into consideration and find the humanity. It is easy to want to disassociate because it is heavy every day to see the violence in people. To find the humanity in myself and the people I'm working for is important for my mental health and the mental health of others. That aspect of the class has made me a more well-rounded person.
How do you see yourself applying what you learned in this course to your future endeavors?
Considering this course changed something within me, I feel as though any and everything I do in the future, I will somehow find a way to bring it back to Black Girl Magic. Any text I envelop myself in will most likely be approached in the same way I learned to approach literary works in this course: With an open yet inquiring mind.
What do you like about your degree program?
I appreciate the variety of skills the forensic science program helps students develop. It is such a specific mode of science, but it is necessary to be well-versed in other broader sciences like biology and chemistry. You cannot have one without the others, and Point Park makes sure forensic science students understand their connections.
I've gained a lot of skills in the lab setting, which I'm proud of. I was scared at first, because we work with items at hot temperatures and chemicals that we need to be cautious with, but I've grown my confidence for the real world. Biological sciences Professor Connor Murphy is always there to help. I've also had a positive experience learning with Edward Strimlan, who leads the forensic science program. Our on-campus CSI House provides a unique experience that I haven't seen at other schools. We build mock crime scenes from the ground up.
Why would you recommend Point Park to a prospective student?
Point Park provides students with experience in their fields of study, which sets them up for the workforce before they graduate. The University excels at customizing internships and experiential learning opportunities that are specific to each student's goals.
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