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Integrating Race, Racism, and Critical Consciousness in Black Parents' Engagement With Schools
Author(s) -
Marchand Aixa D.,
Vassar Rema Reynolds,
Diemer Matthew A.,
Rowley Stephanie J.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of family theory and review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.454
H-Index - 17
eISSN - 1756-2589
pISSN - 1756-2570
DOI - 10.1111/jftr.12344
Subject(s) - conceptualization , racism , critical consciousness , race (biology) , critical race theory , consciousness , inclusion (mineral) , critical theory , psychology , social psychology , sociology , gender studies , pedagogy , epistemology , neuroscience , philosophy , artificial intelligence , computer science
Although decades of research document the positive benefits of parent involvement in schools, Black parents are not always welcomed in schooling spaces. Black parents have sometimes been perceived as uncaring about their children's education, and often racism has precluded their full inclusion and meaningful participation. This article uses critical race theory to understand the ways that racism influences Black parents' experiences in schools. We propose a novel form of parent involvement—critical parent engagement—which we define as parents' recognition of issues related to race and racism in schools that informs the actions they take to ensure their children's academic success. This new conceptualization of parent involvement relies on critical race theory and critical consciousness theory to provide a conceptual framework to understand how Black parents critically analyze issues that are present in the schools and how they subsequently engage in action. We conclude with suggestions for future research and practice.