What If All the Kids Are White?: Anti-Bias Multicultural Education with Young Children and Families / Edition 2

by Louise Derman-Sparks, Patricia G. Ramsey, Julie Olsen Edwards, Sharon Ryan, Carol Day

Overview

In this updated edition, two distinguished early childhood educators tackle the crucial topic of what White children need and gain from anti-bias and multicultural education. The authors propose seven learning themes to help young White children resist messages of racism and build identity and skills for thriving in a country and world filled with diverse ways of being. This compelling text includes teaching strategies for early childhood settings, activities for families and staff, reflection questions, a record of 20th- and 21st-century White anti-racism activists, and organizational and website resources.

Bringing this bestselling guide completely up to date, the authors:

• Address the current state of racism and anti-racism in the United States, including the election of the first African American president and the rise of hate groups.
• Review child development research with a particular emphasis on recent observational studies that show how White children enact racial power codes.
• Discuss implementation of the core learning themes in racially diverse early childhood education settings, state standards for preschools and pre-K classrooms, and NCLB pressures on early childhood teaching.
• Update all resources and appendices, including reading lists and websites for finding resources and organizations engaged in anti-racism work.

Praise for the First Edition—

“By starting with a strong sense of identity that is not race-based, children can move forward to cultivate an anti-racist culture. This book offers caregivers excellent frameworks and tools to make this happen.” – TC Record

“Derman-Sparks and Ramsey offer an ‘alternative vision’ for White identity that breaks the mold….The current status of our anti-bias work demands we read (this book) and use it well” —From the Foreword by Carol Brunson Day

“A dynamic blend of child development theory, social history, and the best pedagogical practice from two distinguished social justice educators—every teacher of young children should read it!” — Beverly Daniel Tatum, President, Spelman College

“An accessible, practical, and essential tool for every teacher of young White children. I especially appreciated the concrete suggestions and abundance of resources from two of early childhood education’s most experienced teachers.”—Paul Kivel, educator and author of Uprooting Racism and I Can Make My World a Safer Place

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780807752128
Publisher:	Teachers College Press
Publication date:	05/04/2011
Series:	Early Childhood Education Series , #122
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	224
Sales rank:	636,797
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Louise Derman-Sparks is a past faculty member at Pacific Oaks College in Pasadena, California and the co-author of Teaching/Learning Anti-Racism. Louise presents conference keynotes, conducts workshops, and consults throughout the United States and internationally. Patricia G. Ramsey is Professor of Psychology and Education at Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Massachusetts and author of Teaching and Learning in a Diverse World.

Table of Contents

Foreword Carol Brunson Day xi

Acknowledgments xiii

Introduction: Identity, Diversity, and Fairness Still Matter 1

An Alternative Vision of White Identity 2

Do We Still Need a Book About White Children and Diversity? 3

What to Expect in This Second Edition 8

Our Own Backgrounds 12

To Our Readers 16

1 Ideals to Practice: The Journey 17

Expanding and Deepening Your Self-Knowledge 19

Phases of the White Anti-Racist Journey 22

Strategic Planning for Children 25

Reflection Questions 28

For Further Reading 28

Part I Identity and Racism

2 Whiteness and Racism in the United States: A Brief Overview 31

Roots and History of Racism 32

Contemporary White Racism 36

Reflection Questions 43

For Further Reading 44

3 How Children Form and Enact White Identities 45

Developing White Racial-Group Identity 46

Learning About Other Racial Groups 50

Learning About Economic Class 56

Reflection Questions 59

For Further Reading 60

4 Fostering Children's Identities 61

Learning Themes 61

Learning About Your Children 63

Strategies for Working with Children 65

5 Exploring White Identities with Staff and Families 75

Understanding Disagreement or Resistance 75

Learning About Your Children's Families 77

Laying the Foundation for Working with Families 79

Facilitating Tips 81

Strategies for Implementing Learning Themes 84

Going Deeper 88

A Tale of Two Centers: Episode One 90

Part II Making Connections and Becoming Activists

6 A Short History of White Resistance to Racism in the United States 101

Anti-Racism Movements in the 17th and 18th Centuries 102

The Abolitionist Movement and the Civil War 103

Anti-Racism Movements in the 20th Century 105

Anti-Racism Work Today 108

Reflection Questions 111

For Further Reading 111

7 How Children Learn About Racism and Enact Anti-Racism 112

Learning to Care 113

Broadening Perspectives and Widening Connections 114

Learning to Challenge Assumptions and Inequities 117

Learning to Be Social Activists 119

Reflection Questions 124

For Further Reading 124

8 Fostering Children's Caring and Activism 125

Learning Themes 125

Learning About Your Children's Ideas 128

Strategies for Working with Children 129

9 Cultivating Caring and Activism with Staff and Families 144

Outcomes for Adults 144

Learning About Yourself 145

Learning About Your Children's Families 147

Strategies for Working with Families and Staff 148

Next Steps: Investigating Racism as a System 155

A Tale of Two Centers: Episode Two 159

Appendix A Guidelines for Selecting Children's Books 169

Appendix B Organizations and Websites 172

Appendix C Selected Modern-Day White Anti-Racism Activists 175

References 183

Index 195

About the Authors 210