Activity 2.1 | Anti-racism is not optional: Bodies are political

The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) created an American resource about a teacher practicing anti-racism in a kindergarten classroom. 

While the demographic is unique from the scope of early childhood educators, child care managers, and leaders in British Columbia, it presents honest reflections that confront both the educator's and families' fears.

Within the article, the teacher shares her experiences, conversations with families, and the tools she used to respond.

Spend time reading the article and visiting the links in the “Stocking Your Library with Equitable and Inclusive Children’s Titles” section.    

Audre Lorde, intersectional feminist, professor, and advocate famously wrote, “The Master's Tools Will Never Dismantle the Master's House” (Catalyst Project, 2013). To create new futures, we need new tools, and new ways of building. We have explored radical self-love as leadership, as a way of insisting that we begin the work of healing within ourselves. 

As Sonya Renee Taylor offers in Layla Saad’s (Pillow, 2020) podcast:

"Radical self-love, as far as I’m concerned, first and foremost is a political framework. And so, I invite people, when they think about this idea of radical self-love, to see their relationship with themselves as a personal relationship and as a deeply political relationship and so our transformation is a political necessity." (8:43)

To move some of this knowledge from theory to practice, in this section of the course, you will develop a toolbox of children’s literature, aimed at supporting children to see themselves, to see and have the opportunity to talk about differences, and to support educators to “strive toward an anti-racist, anti-oppressive framework from which to base all practice” (Early Childhood Educators of British Columbia, 2021). 

As a child care manager and leader, begin with a clear statement of intention for early childhood educators and families. Explain why you are creating this list.

Include the title of each children’s book, and a brief summary about what the book is about. Think critically about why you are selecting particular books: 

• What messages do you want to convey? 
• What conversations do you hope to spark?

References

Cole, K. & Verwayne, D. (2018, May). Becoming Upended: Teaching and Learning about Race and Racism with Young Children and Their Families. National Association for the Education of Young Children. https://www.naeyc.org/resources/pubs/yc/may2018/teaching-learning-race-and-racism

Pillow, H. (2020, October 7). Episode 33: Sonya Renee Taylor on Radical Self Love (Episode 33). In Become a Good Ancestor: With Layla F. Saad. http://laylafsaad.com/good-ancestor-podcast/ep033-sonya-taylor