Works In progress
Book Manuscript: Tentatively entitled Twisted Entanglements: Navigating the Paradox of Sisterhood and Systems of Power in Black Beauty Spaces, this book is based on two years of ethnographic research conducted in a Las Vegas African hair braiding salon. This in-depth study delves into the complexities of Black women's identity-making processes, revealing how perceptions of nationhood and Black womanhood can often hinder racial solidarity within the African diaspora. By immersing herself in the daily lives and narratives of the women in the salon, Dr. Jenkins uncovers the nuanced ways in which they navigate and resist the societal and institutional pressures that shape their experiences.
The book also explores the unique and demanding labor aspects of the Black beauty industry and the challenges of Black motherhood. It examines how these elements intersect with identity and institutional entanglements, providing a comprehensive look at the multifaceted lives of Black women. Through this intimate lens, CROWNed sheds light on broader social and political issues, offering a poignant examination of how Black women create and maintain their identities amidst external constraints. This work provides a deeper understanding of the challenges and triumphs of Black womanhood in contemporary U.S. society.
Pending Journal Articles:
Jenkins, Nicole, and Katie Duarte. "An Emotional Paradox: The Radiance and Vexation in Wearing Natural Hair." Manuscript in preparation.
Jennifer Bacon, T. Estriplet, Jenkins, Nicole, and Bahiyahh Muhammad. "Mothering in the Academy: Stories of Navigating Mothering on a College Campus." Manuscript in preparation.
B. Muhammad, Jenkins, Nicole, J. Bacon, and T. Estriplet "Mothering While Black: Navigating Academia, Family, and Resistance." Manuscript in preparation.
Jenkins, Nicole, B. Miles, A. Mbilishaka. "As Black Beauty and Black Identity Collide: A Review of JaJa’s Hair Braiding. " Manuscript in preparation.
Jenkins, Nicole, A. Mbilishaka. "Natural Hair as Psychological Support: Identity, Healing, and Resistance in Black Beauty Practices." Manuscript in preparation.
The book also explores the unique and demanding labor aspects of the Black beauty industry and the challenges of Black motherhood. It examines how these elements intersect with identity and institutional entanglements, providing a comprehensive look at the multifaceted lives of Black women. Through this intimate lens, CROWNed sheds light on broader social and political issues, offering a poignant examination of how Black women create and maintain their identities amidst external constraints. This work provides a deeper understanding of the challenges and triumphs of Black womanhood in contemporary U.S. society.
Pending Journal Articles:
Jenkins, Nicole, and Katie Duarte. "An Emotional Paradox: The Radiance and Vexation in Wearing Natural Hair." Manuscript in preparation.
Jennifer Bacon, T. Estriplet, Jenkins, Nicole, and Bahiyahh Muhammad. "Mothering in the Academy: Stories of Navigating Mothering on a College Campus." Manuscript in preparation.
B. Muhammad, Jenkins, Nicole, J. Bacon, and T. Estriplet "Mothering While Black: Navigating Academia, Family, and Resistance." Manuscript in preparation.
Jenkins, Nicole, B. Miles, A. Mbilishaka. "As Black Beauty and Black Identity Collide: A Review of JaJa’s Hair Braiding. " Manuscript in preparation.
Jenkins, Nicole, A. Mbilishaka. "Natural Hair as Psychological Support: Identity, Healing, and Resistance in Black Beauty Practices." Manuscript in preparation.
Select Publications
Peer Reviewed
Jenkins, Nicole. 2024. "Exploring the Urban Landscape: Professor Elijah Anderson's Contributions to Black Social Thought." In Fifty Key Scholars in Black Social Thought, edited by Marie Jipguep and Nazneen Khan. Routledge.
Jenkins, Nicole. 2024. "Black Mothers' Responses to Systems of Oppression: Navigating Work, Family, and Self-Actualization." In The Mother Wave: Matricentric Feminism as Theory, Activism, and Practice, edited by Andrea O’Reilly. Demeter Press.
Jenkins, N. 2024. "Shame to Pride: A Natural Hair Journey From Childhood, the United States Air Force, to Academia" Kula A. Francis, Anna M. Clarke. Women of Color and Hair Bias in the Work Environment. IGI Global.
Jenkins, N. 2023. “Motherhood and Work: Women Combining Work and Childcare as a Patriarchal Response". Issues of Race & Society.
Jenkins, N. “Dad’s In, Dad’s Out” -Part 2. Gatewood, B. J., Muhammad, B. M., & Turner, S. M. (Eds.). (2023). Black Children of Incarcerated Parents Speak Truth to Power: Social Revolution. Taylor & Francis.
Jenkins, N. “Dad’s In, Dad’s Out” -Part 1. Gatewood, B. J., Muhammad, B. M., & Turner, S. M. (Eds.). (2023). Black Children of Incarcerated Parents Speak Truth to Power: Social Revolution. Taylor & Francis.
Jenkins, N. Dec 2022. Prisons of Debt: the Afterlives of Incarcerated Fathers by Lynne Haney. Criminal Law and Criminal Justice Book Reviews, Rutgers University Press.
Jenkins, Nicole. 2019. “Distance in Diaspora: Contested Blackness in Black Women’s Identity Making in Contemporary U.S.” Journal of Contemporary Ethnography
Jenkins, Nicole, and Ranita Ray. 2019. “Racial and Class Inequalities Among Youth in the U.S.” Entry in Encyclopedia on Teen-lives Around the World published by ABC-CLIO.
Research Reports
Jenkins, N. and Bahiyyah Muhammad. 2022. “Are Black Student-Parents Alright?: Stories of Stigma, Motivation, and Legacy-Building at Howard University” Howard University Center for Women, Gender, and Global Leadership Newsletter. Research Report.
Book Reviews
Jenkins, Nicole 2023. [Book Review] Prisons of Debt: The Afterlives of Incarcerated Fathers by Lynne Haney." Criminal Law and Criminal Justice Book Reviews, Rutgers University Press. Link.
Moulite, Jessica, and Nicole Jenkins. 2024. "[Book Review] From Here to Equality: Reparations for Black Americans in the Twenty-First Century by William A. Darity Jr. and Kirsten Mullen." Sociology of Race and Ethnicity. Link
Jenkins, Nicole. 2024. "[Book Review] Patriarchy and Gender in Africa by Veronica Fynn Bruey." African Studies Review, Cambridge University Press. Link
Peer-Reviewed Policy Research
Peer-reviewed by Ujima, Inc., The National Center on Violence Against Women in the Black Community
Jenkins, Nicole Dezrea. (June 2024). Black Paper: Black Women and Children Facing Poverty in the DMV Area. Washington, D.C.: Ujima, Inc.
— A comprehensive analysis of economic injustice, systemic racism, and policy failures impacting Black women and children in the Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia region. Includes policy recommendations grounded in ALICE data and lived experiences.
Jenkins, Nicole Dezrea. (June 2024). Fact Sheet: Poverty’s Impact on Black Women and Children in the DMV. Washington, D.C.: Ujima, Inc.
— Presents key statistical findings from the 2023 ALICE Report on racialized poverty, employment precarity, childcare burdens, and housing inequality affecting Black families in the DMV.
Jenkins, Nicole Dezrea. (February 2024). Black Paper: Strands of Identity – The Cultural Influence and Sociopolitical Role of Natural Hair. Washington, D.C.: Ujima, Inc.
— This Black Paper contextualizes natural hair as a global expression of identity and resistance. Integrates original Global Crowns data and legislative advocacy around the CROWN Act.
Jenkins, Nicole Dezrea. (February 2024). Fact Sheet: Natural Hair Discrimination as Violence Against the Black Community. Washington, D.C.: Ujima, Inc.
— An accessible tool outlining the cultural, psychological, legal, and health implications of natural hair discrimination, developed in support of national anti-discrimination campaigns.
Jenkins, Nicole. 2024. "Exploring the Urban Landscape: Professor Elijah Anderson's Contributions to Black Social Thought." In Fifty Key Scholars in Black Social Thought, edited by Marie Jipguep and Nazneen Khan. Routledge.
Jenkins, Nicole. 2024. "Black Mothers' Responses to Systems of Oppression: Navigating Work, Family, and Self-Actualization." In The Mother Wave: Matricentric Feminism as Theory, Activism, and Practice, edited by Andrea O’Reilly. Demeter Press.
Jenkins, N. 2024. "Shame to Pride: A Natural Hair Journey From Childhood, the United States Air Force, to Academia" Kula A. Francis, Anna M. Clarke. Women of Color and Hair Bias in the Work Environment. IGI Global.
Jenkins, N. 2023. “Motherhood and Work: Women Combining Work and Childcare as a Patriarchal Response". Issues of Race & Society.
Jenkins, N. “Dad’s In, Dad’s Out” -Part 2. Gatewood, B. J., Muhammad, B. M., & Turner, S. M. (Eds.). (2023). Black Children of Incarcerated Parents Speak Truth to Power: Social Revolution. Taylor & Francis.
Jenkins, N. “Dad’s In, Dad’s Out” -Part 1. Gatewood, B. J., Muhammad, B. M., & Turner, S. M. (Eds.). (2023). Black Children of Incarcerated Parents Speak Truth to Power: Social Revolution. Taylor & Francis.
Jenkins, N. Dec 2022. Prisons of Debt: the Afterlives of Incarcerated Fathers by Lynne Haney. Criminal Law and Criminal Justice Book Reviews, Rutgers University Press.
Jenkins, Nicole. 2019. “Distance in Diaspora: Contested Blackness in Black Women’s Identity Making in Contemporary U.S.” Journal of Contemporary Ethnography
Jenkins, Nicole, and Ranita Ray. 2019. “Racial and Class Inequalities Among Youth in the U.S.” Entry in Encyclopedia on Teen-lives Around the World published by ABC-CLIO.
Research Reports
Jenkins, N. and Bahiyyah Muhammad. 2022. “Are Black Student-Parents Alright?: Stories of Stigma, Motivation, and Legacy-Building at Howard University” Howard University Center for Women, Gender, and Global Leadership Newsletter. Research Report.
Book Reviews
Jenkins, Nicole 2023. [Book Review] Prisons of Debt: The Afterlives of Incarcerated Fathers by Lynne Haney." Criminal Law and Criminal Justice Book Reviews, Rutgers University Press. Link.
Moulite, Jessica, and Nicole Jenkins. 2024. "[Book Review] From Here to Equality: Reparations for Black Americans in the Twenty-First Century by William A. Darity Jr. and Kirsten Mullen." Sociology of Race and Ethnicity. Link
Jenkins, Nicole. 2024. "[Book Review] Patriarchy and Gender in Africa by Veronica Fynn Bruey." African Studies Review, Cambridge University Press. Link
Peer-Reviewed Policy Research
Peer-reviewed by Ujima, Inc., The National Center on Violence Against Women in the Black Community
Jenkins, Nicole Dezrea. (June 2024). Black Paper: Black Women and Children Facing Poverty in the DMV Area. Washington, D.C.: Ujima, Inc.
— A comprehensive analysis of economic injustice, systemic racism, and policy failures impacting Black women and children in the Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia region. Includes policy recommendations grounded in ALICE data and lived experiences.
Jenkins, Nicole Dezrea. (June 2024). Fact Sheet: Poverty’s Impact on Black Women and Children in the DMV. Washington, D.C.: Ujima, Inc.
— Presents key statistical findings from the 2023 ALICE Report on racialized poverty, employment precarity, childcare burdens, and housing inequality affecting Black families in the DMV.
Jenkins, Nicole Dezrea. (February 2024). Black Paper: Strands of Identity – The Cultural Influence and Sociopolitical Role of Natural Hair. Washington, D.C.: Ujima, Inc.
— This Black Paper contextualizes natural hair as a global expression of identity and resistance. Integrates original Global Crowns data and legislative advocacy around the CROWN Act.
Jenkins, Nicole Dezrea. (February 2024). Fact Sheet: Natural Hair Discrimination as Violence Against the Black Community. Washington, D.C.: Ujima, Inc.
— An accessible tool outlining the cultural, psychological, legal, and health implications of natural hair discrimination, developed in support of national anti-discrimination campaigns.