The Language of Equity and Diversity
Critical thinking and communicating about the forces that shape children’s identities and attitudes require having appropriate language. As for all authors, the terms we choose to use reflect our perspective, experience, and understanding of our book’s subject. As ideas change, people create new terms to describe them or use old terms in new ways. Additionally, people use a variety of names to describe themselves, even some that differ from those used by people in their same social identity groups. (See “What’s in a Name?” in Chapter 2.)
In the anecdotes and discussions throughout the book, we name children’s social identities when it is relevant to the topic being considered. We mostly refer to children or to the child rather than use the gendered terms girl or boy and she or he, except where it makes an anecdote clearer. We avoid pronouns where possible, and where necessary we alternate the use of he and she in the various examples and stories.
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As you read, ponder, and implement the ideas in this book, we hope that you will add your experiences and knowledge to the ongoing work of creating early childhood programs that make it possible for all children to develop to their fullest potential.
Online at NAEYC.org/books/anti-bias you will find links to other resources to deepen your learning and provide new ideas and possibilities for your work with children.
It Takes a Village
Our most heartfelt thanks go to the many experienced social justice educators and activists who helped us make sure that this book says what it needs to say. They gave generously of their busy time to read through chapters at various points in the book’s development. Their feedback, reflecting each person’s own work with children and in social justice struggles, added important insights that we value greatly. In alphabetical order, deep thanks to Regina Chavez, Dana Cox, Robette Dias, Doralynn Folse, Jean Gallagher-Heil, Debbie LeeKeenan, Christina Lopez-Morgan, Mary Pat Martin, Deborah Menkart, Colette Murray, John Nimmo, Encian Pastel, Bill Sparks, Sean Sparks, Anne Stewart, Nadiyah Faquir Taylor, and Maureen Yates. In addition, we thank colleagues who wrote specific vignettes or contributed to specific chapters: Margie Brinkley, Nancy Brown, Carol Cole, Tarah Fleming, Doralynn Folse, Aimee Gelnaw, Luis Hernandez, Debbie LeeKeenan, Bryan Nelson, Laurie Olsen, Encian Pastel, Louise Rosenkrantz, and Nadiyah Faquir Taylor. We are also grateful to the many educators, named and unnamed, who shared the personal stories you read throughout the book.
We owe a debt of gratitude to NAEYC for the organization’s steadfast commitment to publishing a book about ABE since the first edition came out in 1989. NAEYC has held strong in the face of criticism and unfounded attacks. To our current editors—Kathy Charner and Holly Bohart—we give many thanks for their never-failing warmth, support, and discerning editing.
Finally, we send our love to the many people in our beloved communities who have been a part of our ABE journeys. They were there for us in times of discouragement, frustration, confusion, or exhaustion—and in times when we got it right and when it was time to celebrate.
I, Louise, hug my many colleagues from Pacific Oaks, Crossroads, DECET (the European diversity/equity trainers network), and the numerous early childhood teachers of children and adults with whom I’ve have spoken in the past 35 years. And, as always, I am able to do what I do because of Bill, Douglass, and Sean.
I, Julie, always hold in my mind and heart my early childhood colleagues from across the country, from Cabrillo College, and from my union, the California Federation of Teachers; the commitment of my beloved Rob, Rebekah, and Toby; and my amazing sisters, Kathie and Laurie, who always have my back.
And I, Catherine, am grateful to my wife, Linda; my parents, Jessie and Bud; Brian; my colleagues at PCOE; the Sierra College faculty and students; and the circle of women who surround me with love, wisdom, and support—Louise and Julie, my extraordinary mentors, and Randi, Linda L., and Joy. All of you are the wind beneath my wings.
Dedication
To the new generation of anti-bias educators who will expand, deepen, and carry on this work. And to our parents Tillie & Jack Olsen and Ann & Al Robbins. They lived and taught that respect, belief in justice, and the power of ordinary people, organized to act together, can change the world. Their work goes on.