Narratives of Black Mothers: Child Readiness, Racism, and "Double Consciousness"

• In Event: Antiracist Pathways to Construction of Justice in Education

Abstract

African American child readiness in the United States (U. S.) in general stems from embedded ideologies and practices. It includes societies’ resources undergirding children’s initial academic success. This study examined black mother’s perspectives regarding child readiness and racism. Findings drawn from the narratives of five black females framed by critical race theory (CRT) revealed they maintained a positive view of themselves and their children. The participants’ narratives contested mainstream deficit notions of black women and their parenting capacities. Moreover, their stories highly esteemed modeling expectations for their children. Yet, all the participant’s reflected deficit ideologies of blacks. Data analysis prompted developing a theory of double consciousness to further explicate the complex and symbiotic nature of black child readiness.

Authors

• Horace Whittaker, Public School Educator

• Corliss Brown Thompson, Northeastern University