Cultivating Critical Race Theory Awareness With Elementary Preservice Teachers Through Examination of Black Lives Matter–Themed Children’s Literature

• In Event: I’m Down With Black and Brown: Black and Brown Experiences With Whiteness, Children’s Literature, and Teacher Retention

Abstract

This study documented PSTs who examined Black Lives Matter (BLM) themed children’s literature, embedded in developmentally appropriate picture books, as part of coursework for an online critical issues children’s literature course required for elementary teacher certification. An analysis of instructor mentoring, online discussions, literature evaluations, and interviews demonstrates enhanced awareness of the need to implement BLM themed literature, against the grain of rigid curricular requirements and policies that ban Critical Race Theory (CRT) dialogue in numerous school districts. Moreover, PSTs identified these texts as a source to guide CRT to raise awareness of the history and permanence of systemic racism and its influence on contemporary society and implementation of culturally relevant literature.

Author

• K. Dara Hill, University of Michigan - Dearborn