Black Immigrant Literacies: Intersections of Race, Language, and Culture in the Classroom

This book provides a framework for teaching Black immigrant literacies that emphasizes the struggle for justice,the myth of the model minority,transraciolinguistics,the local-global,and holistic literacies. It offers lesson plans, instructional modules, and templates for K–12 and college students, highlighting authentic narratives of Afro-Caribbean immigrant youth and research-based methods for teaching all students to draw on their metalinguistic, metacultural, and metaracial understandings.

Format: Hardback
Length: 176 pages
Publication date: 24 November 2023
Publisher: Teachers' College Press

Centering, affirming, and developing Black immigrant literacies is crucial for enabling all youth to engage with and honor their unique literacies. This book offers a transformative framework for revolutionizing teaching practices, drawing on students' assets to redesign, rethink, and reimagine literacy and the English Language Arts curriculum. The framework encompasses five key mechanisms: the struggle for justice, the myth of the model minority, transraciolinguistics, the local-global, and holistic literacies.

Through authentic narratives of Afro-Caribbean youth, the author provides valuable insights into how teachers and educators can effectively teach Black literate immigrants, utilize the curriculum as a tool for instructing Black immigrant youth, foster relationships among Black immigrants and their peers through literacy, and connect parents, schools, and communities. The book includes lesson plans, instructional modules, and templates that cater to students from kindergarten to college, focusing on their diverse needs and interests.

One of the key features of this book is its emphasis on understanding the experiences of Black immigrant students, which differ from other Black American students. It highlights authentic narratives that center the holistic voices of Afro-Caribbean immigrant youth from Jamaica and the Bahamas, allowing students to express their perspectives and engage with their identities. The book also demonstrates how students grapple with racialization, becoming immigrants, and the responses of others to their use of Englishes in the United States.

By incorporating research-based methods into literacy and ELA classrooms, the book empowers students to draw on their metalinguistic, metacultural, and metaracial understandings, fostering a deeper understanding of themselves and the world around them. The framework provides concrete strategies for supporting Black immigrant students, including culturally responsive teaching practices, bilingual education, and addressing the challenges of acculturation.

In conclusion, this book is a valuable resource for educators seeking to enhance their teaching practices and create inclusive learning environments for all students. By centering, affirming, and developing Black immigrant literacies, educators can empower students to engage with their unique literacies, honor their heritage, and contribute to a more diverse and inclusive society.

Dimension: 235 x 162 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780807768976