Reading for Justice: A Critical Literacy Examination of Children’s Books on Black Civic Engagement

Abstract

During a political climate when racism and systemic injustices are overt, the sanctions and punishments imposed on supporters are nothing short of absurd. While civic engagement is not a new phenomenon, navigating it through times that feel eerily reminiscent of the 1950s echoes the old cliché “history repeats itself.” This era of the Civil Rights Movement was marked by the violent suppression of African Americans who sought to exercise their constitutional rights. Civil Rights leaders such as Claudette Colvin, Medgar Evers, Stokely Carmichael, Ralph Abernathy, Fannie Lou Hamer, Andrew Young, and John Lewis are just a few who were beaten, jailed, and even killed for attempting to vote, protest peacefully, or demand equal treatment under the law. Civic engagement plays a crucial role in shaping the direction of society. It empowers individuals to understand their rights, participate in decision-making, and contribute to their communities. Teaching civic engagement in elementary classrooms can help instill a sense of responsibility toward others and the community. Early exposure to concepts like fairness, justice, and equality can help children develop empathy and an understanding of others’ needs and rights. Using grade-appropriate books to introduce concepts of racial justice and equality helps students not only understand these topics but also relate them to their own lives. This empirical study will focus on how children's books use a critical literacy lens for Black American Civic Engagement and provide deep insights into how these texts shape young readers' understanding of race, history, and social action.