Over these last few weeks I have been exposing myself to the NBCDI website. This website is full of information of the programs and services that the organization provides for predominately Black children and their families.
A resource tool, located on their website, that stood out to me was Being Black Is Not A Risk Factor: A Strengths-Based Look at the State of the Black Child. This publication is used to challenge the thoughts and ideas about the prevailing and overemphasized limitations of Black children.
I found the publication one that would be a great resource for early childhood educators and other professionals in the field. Topics that are covered range from a positive outlook on black children and their families, enhancing academic outcomes for black children and youth, and quality programs to starting smart from the start, standardized test, and supporting education from birth. I found these topics and publication made the wheels turn a bit more for me. As a black women and a mother of two young black boys I want them to have the same chance and opportunities as other children and to be looked at for what skills and knowledge they do have and what they have learned instead of being treated based on the ideas and stereotypes of their possible limitations because they are Black. Also, another positive of this publication is the strengths based approach. This is good practice for all people regardless of your profession. Approaching a person with their strengths and helping them to build upon their challenges creates an inviting and welcoming relationship.
In 2014 I would like to think that racism and classism is an idea of the past and that we are moving forward in our thinking. However, this publication provides evidence that that is not the case at all. When we are still reading about equality, quality, and effective programs for all children regardless of their race, gender, and class we are not as progressive as I would like to think. I would recommend this publication to everyone especially those who are not exposed to many other cultures and races. I think with reading this publication one may notice their own personal and professional biases within the early childhood education field.
If you would like to read this publication it can be found and downloaded for free at: http://www.nbcdi.org/resource
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