Amplifying the Encounters of Young Black Children with Anti-Black Racism: An Exploration of Parents’ and Early Childhood Educators’ Perspectives on Early Learning and Child Care Environments

Milena  Pimentel; Jessie-Lee McIsaac; Crystal  Watson; Emma Stirling-Cameron; Nicholas Hickens; Barbara  Hamilton-Hinch

doi:10.18357/jcs202321239

Milena Pimentel Mount Saint Vincent University https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4609-0585
Jessie-Lee McIsaac Early Childhood Collaborative Research Centre, Mount Saint Vincent University https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9294-5313
Crystal Watson Faculty of Health Professions, Dalhousie University https://orcid.org/
Emma Stirling-Cameron Centre for Gender and Sexual Health Equity, University of British Columbia https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9388-2556
Nicholas Hickens Early Childhood Collaborative Research Centre, Mount Saint Vincent University https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6763-7327
Barbara Hamilton-Hinch School of Health and Human Performance, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0189-3723

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18357/jcs202321239

Keywords: early childhood education, anti-Black racism, colour-evasiveness, positive racial identity, equity

Abstract

There is ongoing attention to equity and inclusion in early learning but a paucity of stories on diverse experiences. This study sought to understand the experiences of Black children in Nova Scotian early learning and child care environments through the perspectives of their parents and early childhood educators (ECEs) working in African Nova Scotian (ANS) communities or with Black children in Nova Scotia, Canada. Following in-depth interviews with parents and ECEs (n=15) three interrelated themes were identified using reflexive thematic analysis: anti-Black approach to curriculum; inaction on racism, social justice, and equity; and precluding Black children from culturally safe environments. The results highlight critical issues of racism in early learning environments and the importance of building culturally safe environments for young Black children and their families.

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