Can Black Boys Be Children: Towards a Black Boy Innocence in K-12 Schools

• In Event: Reimagining Black Masculinities: Exploring the Educational Experiences of Black Boys and Men

Abstract

This conceptual paper explores how outdoors and environmental education in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade is vital for nurturing childhood and innocence in Black boys. This paper addresses the harmful impacts of anti-Blackness, revealing how adultification, criminalization, and surveillance in educational settings undermine Black boys’ childhood experiences. The paper argues that both place and space contribute to denying their childhood innocence. Integrating Black feminist thought, Blackboycrit, and childhood studies, this paper introduces the concept of “Black Boy Innocence,” advocating for school environments that celebrate Black ecologies and outdoor experiences to foster empowerment and a sense of belonging.

Author

• Andre Spencer Anderson-Thompson, University of California - Davis