On the Abolition of Belonging as Property and Its Politics of Exclusion: Toward Justice for Immigrant Children and Children of Immigrants of Color

• In Event: Belonging(s): Including Leaders, Languages, and the Marginalized

Abstract

Belonging deeply impacts young children’s social, emotional, and psychological development, being linked to self-concept, self-esteem, and identity. As such, belonging must be regarded as an undeniable right of all children. Due to the longstanding subjugation of intersectionally-minoritized individuals in U.S. society and the importance of belonging, in this paper, I explore the relationship between majoritarian conceptualizations of belonging and young immigrant children of color. After unveiling how belonging is marked by a politics of exclusion, I employ critical race methodology to center the lived experiences of immigrants of color, offering insights for the pursuit of justice in and through belonging.

Author

• Mariana Souto-Manning, Teachers College, Columbia University