Centering Black Boys: Theorizing Humanity, Play, and Joy in Contemporary Children's Literature
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| Title: | Centering Black Boys: Theorizing Humanity, Play, and Joy in Contemporary Children's Literature |
|---|---|
| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Anthony L. Brown (ORCID |
| Source: | Urban Education. 2026 61(5):970-1002. |
| Availability: | SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 33 |
| Publication Date: | 2026 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Descriptors: | Childrens Literature, Blacks, Picture Books, African Americans, Males, Stereotypes, Social Influences, Cultural Influences, Play, Race, Humanization, Racism, African American Culture |
| DOI: | 10.1177/00420859251371671 |
| ISSN: | 0042-0859 1552-8340 |
| Abstract: | Drawing from theories of humanity, knowledge, play, and representation, this article theorizes the narratives told about Black boys in children's literature from 2002 to 2025. Through a critical content analysis of 18 picture books, the authors examine how Black boys are depicted across stories, emphasizing representations that affirm their full humanity. This study explores how children's literature serves as a site of sociocultural meaning-making. The authors argue that these texts resist dominant tropes and offer portrayals of Black boyhood--rooted in joy, imagination, culture, and community. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2026 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1500975 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| Abstract: | Drawing from theories of humanity, knowledge, play, and representation, this article theorizes the narratives told about Black boys in children's literature from 2002 to 2025. Through a critical content analysis of 18 picture books, the authors examine how Black boys are depicted across stories, emphasizing representations that affirm their full humanity. This study explores how children's literature serves as a site of sociocultural meaning-making. The authors argue that these texts resist dominant tropes and offer portrayals of Black boyhood--rooted in joy, imagination, culture, and community. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 0042-0859 1552-8340 |
| DOI: | 10.1177/00420859251371671 |
