Race, Racism, and Critical Consciousness: Exploring Black Parents' Engagement in Schools

• In Event: 79.042 - Still Persistent, Still Pervasive: Race and Racism in American Schooling

Abstract

This paper explores the roles race and racism play in the ways Black parents interact with school officials. Using critical consciousness theory, this paper argues that parents’ analyses of inequities present within schools influence the reasons and ways they engage. We posit that parents’ critical analysis of racism within schools creates a novel form of parent involvement—critical parental school engagement—which considers parents’ intent for involvement and understanding of racial inequities. Considering CRT as a contextual and historical lens to examine Black parental involvement and CC as the psychological processes that parents experience, together these theories help explain how Black parents’ agency and advocacy for their children within schools.

Authors

• Rema Ella Reynolds, Eastern Michigan University

• Aixa Daphne Marchand, University of Michigan