Early care and education (ECE) programs were created to support the social, emotional and academic development of young children before they enter kindergarten. Yet, there are marked disparities and inequities in how Black children and their families are perceived and treated in ECE, according to a review article published in a special issue on Racism in the Early Years in Early Childhood Research Quarterly journal from Courtney Zulauf-McCurdy, PhD (Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago), Olivia R. Nazaire (Loyola University Chicago), Tunette Powell, PhD (Arizona State University) and Iheoma Iruka, PhD (University of North Carolina).
The authors argue that anti-Blackness is the mechanism leading to inequalities in early childhood outcomes for Black children and their families. They define anti-Blackness as a specific form of racism that devalues, minimizes, and marginalizes people racialized as Black. It includes cultural and structural racism as well as interpersonal forms of racism reflected in interactions of teachers with Black kids and families. These forms of racism and interactions, according to the authors, often fuel what they call the “deficit perspective.”
“The deficit perspective is when Black children are perceived as having poor upbringing, for example, and so viewed as having underlying deficits as individuals, while the effects of social circumstances, such as poverty, are ignored,” explains lead author Courtney Zulauf-McCurdy, PhD, a clinical community psychologist, Early Childhood Research Lead at the Center for Childhood Resilience at Lurie Children’s and Assistant Professor of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. “We need to change this narrative and focus on the unique resilience and strengths of Black children and their families. We need systemic changes and support for teachers to help them partner with families, which in itself is known to decrease expulsion.”
Dr. Zulauf-McCurdy and colleagues cite research that suggests that ECE centers, administrators and teachers are more likely to pathologize Black children’s behavior, which results in low and unfair expectations, more harsh interactions and more severe discipline. Black children make up only 19 percent of ECE enrollment but comprise 47 percent of children suspended or expelled and are 3.6 times as likely to receive one or more suspensions relative to their White peers. Black children are also less likely to be identified by their teachers as needing support and less likely to receive appropriate treatment compared to White children. These disparities are not a result of Black children and their families, but rather a result of anti-Blackness.
“The effects of anti-Blackness also contribute to the ‘cradle-to-prison pipeline’ or the disturbing national trend wherein Black children are placed on a negative developmental trajectory increasing the likelihood of entering the criminal justice system in the future,” said Dr. Zulauf-McCurdy. “We need to imagine a different future in which ECE honors the unique assets of Black children and families and becomes a place where all Black children can thrive.”
Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago is a nonprofit organization committed to providing access to exceptional care for every child. It is the only independent, research-driven children’s hospital in Illinois and one of less than 35 nationally. This is where the top doctors go to train, practice pediatric medicine, teach, advocate, research and stay up to date on the latest treatments. Exclusively focused on children, all Lurie Children’s resources are devoted to serving their needs. Research at Lurie Children’s is conducted through Stanley Manne Children’s Research Institute, which is focused on improving child health, transforming pediatric medicine and ensuring healthier futures through the relentless pursuit of knowledge. Lurie Children’s is the pediatric training ground for Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. It is ranked as one of the nation’s top children’s hospitals by U.S. News & World Report.
Journal
Early Childhood Research Quarterly