This dissertation is a poetic rendering of the poetry writing experiences of African American adolescent girl poets in order to uncover their multiple identities. However, unlike other phenomenological studies, theoretical approaches to understanding, acknowledging, and revealing the lived experience of my participants have been deeply influenced in my writing through the lens of Black feminism. Black feminism has provided the framework in this research to make narratives and counter-narratives more explicitly audible academically, intellectually, creatively, and socially.

Bacon serves as a facilitator in culturally responsive poetry groups for adolescents and women with a focus on self-identity, gender, race and culture. She has also participated in educational programs in South Africa with an emphasis on the voices of marginalized peoples for social justice and empowerment through poetry. Bacon is a published poet with works in literary magazines such as Phatitude and Returning Woman. Her most recent co-authored article on teachers' beliefs about African American male students in low-performing high schools will soon be published.