Redefinition: A Case for New York State Pre-K–12 Black Studies

• In Event: Saturday Roundtable Session 9:45 am
  In Roundtable Session: Race, Racism, Representation, and the Politics of Reading (Table 30)

Abstract

Re-definition (Mos Def & Talib Kweli, Blackstar, 1999) is a brief that argues that New York State must establish standards for Black studies that examines history, culture, sociology, psychology, policies, experiences, economics, and religion in pre-k-12 classrooms. My focus is particular to Black students, as it is this group for whom the 17th century construct of race was developed (Jefferson 1785). I will bring together works that attempt to substantiate the academic outcomes are connected socio-emotional outcomes as well as agentic developments beyond the classroom. This New York State social studies standard for Pre-K-12 institutions is a policy that would have long ranging effects towards larger agentic societal engagement, academic interactions, and career opportunities.

Author

• Alprentice McCutchen, City School District of New Rochelle