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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 0009-0005-5551-3545), Keffrelyn D. Brown (ORCID 0000-0002-5920-4409), Nathaniel Bryan (ORCID 0000-0003-3275-5830), Saba Khan Vlach (ORCID 0000-0002-8298-0887)
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
FullText Text:
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  Data: Centering Black Boys: Theorizing Humanity, Play, and Joy in Contemporary Children's Literature
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Anthony+L%2E+Brown%22">Anthony L. Brown</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0009-0005-5551-3545">0009-0005-5551-3545</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Keffrelyn+D%2E+Brown%22">Keffrelyn D. Brown</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5920-4409">0000-0002-5920-4409</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Nathaniel+Bryan%22">Nathaniel Bryan</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3275-5830">0000-0003-3275-5830</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Saba+Khan+Vlach%22">Saba Khan Vlach</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8298-0887">0000-0002-8298-0887</externalLink>)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Urban+Education%22"><i>Urban Education</i></searchLink>. 2026 61(5):970-1002.
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  Data: 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
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  Data: Y
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  Data: 33
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Childrens+Literature%22">Childrens Literature</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Blacks%22">Blacks</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Picture+Books%22">Picture Books</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22African+Americans%22">African Americans</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Males%22">Males</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Stereotypes%22">Stereotypes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+Influences%22">Social Influences</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cultural+Influences%22">Cultural Influences</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Play%22">Play</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Race%22">Race</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Humanization%22">Humanization</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Racism%22">Racism</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22African+American+Culture%22">African American Culture</searchLink>
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  Data: 10.1177/00420859251371671
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  Data: 0042-0859<br />1552-8340
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
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  Data: 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.
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  Data: EJ1500975
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        Value: 10.1177/00420859251371671
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 33
        StartPage: 970
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Childrens Literature
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Blacks
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Picture Books
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: African Americans
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      – SubjectFull: Males
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      – SubjectFull: Stereotypes
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      – SubjectFull: Social Influences
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      – SubjectFull: Cultural Influences
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Play
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      – SubjectFull: Race
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      – SubjectFull: Humanization
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      – SubjectFull: Racism
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      – SubjectFull: African American Culture
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    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Centering Black Boys: Theorizing Humanity, Play, and Joy in Contemporary Children's Literature
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            NameFull: Saba Khan Vlach
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              Type: published
              Y: 2026
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