𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗕𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗗𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗣𝗮𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀

𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗕𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗗𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

𝗝𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗹:
Howard Journal of Communications

𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗿:
Taylor & Francis Group

𝗔𝗯𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗗𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲:
28 February 2026

𝗠𝗮𝗻𝘂𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗽𝘁 𝗗𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲:
30 June 2026

𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗲

This Special Issue seeks to advance communication scholarship by centering Black Communication Theory and promoting theoretical perspectives rooted in Black experiences, cultures, histories, and epistemologies. It responds to longstanding concerns regarding the dominance of Western communication theories and the relative marginalization of non-Western perspectives in communication research.

The Special Issue encourages scholars from the Global South, the African continent, and the Black Diaspora to explore communication phenomena through Black communication theoretical lenses. By foregrounding Black-centered perspectives, the issue aims to contribute to theory building, enrich communication scholarship, and provide alternative frameworks that better reflect diverse cultural realities.

The issue particularly welcomes studies that examine communication processes and practices within digital environments while grounding analysis in African and Black-centered theoretical traditions.

𝗧𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁

Submissions may address, but are not limited to:

• Black communication theory and theory building in digital communication contexts
• Interpersonal communication through Black-centered theoretical perspectives
• Intercultural and cross-cultural communication in the Black experience
• International communication and African-centered approaches
• Group communication and collective identity formation
• Health communication within Black communities and digital spaces
• Sports communication and representations of Black identities
• Communication, culture, and ethos in African and Black Diasporic contexts
• Digital media, technology, and Black communication experiences
• Theoretical and empirical examinations of Black communication paradigms

𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗲 𝗙𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀

The Special Issue aims to provide an alternative trajectory for communication theory development by emphasizing Black-centered perspectives and fostering scholarship that reflects the lived experiences, histories, and cultural realities of Black communities. It seeks to encourage innovative research that broadens the scope of communication theory and enriches academic inquiry in the digital age.

𝗦𝘂𝗯𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀

• Papers should be empirical and may employ qualitative, quantitative, or mixed-method approaches.
• Manuscripts should use Black Communication Theory or related Black-centered theoretical frameworks.
• Papers should not exceed 7,000 words and must follow the journal's style guidelines.
• Authors should indicate during submission that the manuscript is intended for the Special Issue on "Centering Black Communication Theory in the Age of Digital Communication."
• Draft manuscripts may be shared with the Guest Editor prior to final submission.
• Final Manuscript Submission Deadline: 30 June 2026.

𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗲 𝗘𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗿

• Kehbuma Langmia, Howard University

𝗣𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝗦𝗲𝘁𝘂 𝗔𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗰𝘀 — 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗲𝗿 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗔𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗢𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 & 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

Visit official website of the publisher