What If All the Kids Are White?: Anti-Bias Multicultural Education with Young Children and Families

Early Childhood Education

by Louise Derman-Sparks, Patricia G. Ramsey

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In this updated edition, two distinguished early childhood educators tackle the crucial topic of what White children need and gain from anti-bias and multicultural education. The authors propose seven learning themes to help young White children resist messages of racism and build identity and skills for thriving in a country and world filled with diverse ways of being. This compelling text includes teaching strategies for early childhood settings, activities for families and staff, reflection questions, a record of 20th- and 21st-century White anti-racism activists, and organizational and website resources.

Bringing this bestselling guide completely up to date, the authors:

Address the current state of racism and anti-racism in the United States, including the election of the first African American president and the rise of hate groups.
Review child development research with a particular emphasis on recent observational studies that show how White children enact racial power codes.
Discuss implementation of the core learning themes in racially diverse early childhood education settings, state standards for preschools and pre-K classrooms, and NCLB pressures on early childhood teaching.
Update all resources and appendices, including reading lists and websites for finding resources and organizations engaged in anti-racism work.

Louise Derman-Sparksis a past faculty member at Pacific Oaks College in Pasadena, California and the co-author ofTeaching/Learning Anti-Racism. Louise presents conference keynotes, conducts workshops, and consults throughout the United States and internationally.Patricia G. Ramseyis Professor of Psychology and Education at Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Massachusetts and author ofTeaching and Learning in a Diverse World.

Praise for the First Edition—

“Derman-Sparks and Ramsey offer an ‘alternative vision’ for white identity that breaks the mold….The current status of our anti-bias work demands we read [this book] and use it well”

—From the Foreword byCarol Brunson Day

“A dynamic blend of child development theory, social history, and the best pedagogical practice from two distinguished social justice educators—every teacher of young children should read it!”

—Beverly Daniel Tatum, President, Spelman College

“An accessible, practical, and essential tool for every teacher of young white children. I especially appreciated the concrete suggestions and abundance of resources from two of early childhood education’s most experienced teachers.”

—Paul Kivel, educator and author ofUprooting RacismandI Can Make My World a Safer Place

“By starting with a strong sense of identity that is not race-based, children can move forward to cultivate an anti-racist culture. This book offers caregivers excellent frameworks and tools to make this happen.”

—TC Record

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Genres: Race, Education, Nonfiction, Professional Development, Teaching, Parenting, Anti Racist

224 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 17, 2003

Reviews

[candra ⁂ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book for my Early Childhood Issues and Methods course. This book really opened my eyes as to the stereotypes and biases that we may portray, and not even mean too. This book was also great for learning how to implement these anti-biases and how to handle the themes with every age group.

[SamSamSam · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was such a trip to read this book in 2024 and juxtapose the content on the Obama-era social climate vs now. I think this book has some really solid ideas, and I loved that they were able to back those ideas up with accounts of actually using them in early childhood centers. I was familiar with most of the concepts in the book already, but what was really eye-opening for me was the content on consumerism and capitalism. I had never made the connection before between those aspects of our culture in America and the ways in which we navigate and perceive race. I thought that an exploration of gender (and sexuality, but more so gender) was really missing from this book unfortunately, and there were times where that was very glaring in the language and content. However, since this was written 13 years ago, I'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt and assume that explorations of gender would be prominently featured in a 2024 edition.

[Teri Pardue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Derman-Sparks is an importance voice in antibas/multicultural education for young children and this is probably my favorite resource of hers. There is plenty of practical advice for educators (and parents) - and it is an excellent read even for those of us who work in environments where all the kids are not “all white”.

I appreciate the organization and flow of the book, the case studies included, as well as activities and ideas for working with parents and children in the classroom.

[Abby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Worth a reread, especially the seven core learning themes and the four goals for anti-bias education.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommend to anyone doing AB/AR work. Particularly the early childhood educators set. This was filled with amazing information and real strategies to use in the classroom, as well as some more intermediate level questions for those on their AB/AR journeys. One of the best teacher books I’ve ever read.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is for educators, trainers, and facilitators who need creative input and structure for implementing anti-bias multicultural learning in setting where most of the participants are white. Though it's geared for working with children, white adults would also benefit from these kinds of learning exercises.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not a teacher, so I was reading this more for insight than for practical use. It was easy to read and it seemed like there were practical suggestions for educators. I gleaned some useful thoughts from it.

[Naomi · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good, practical, and thought-provoking! Highly recommended for educators and parents interested in supporting a more just society.

[Karla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent resource for teachers

Great activity suggestions and ways to expand knowledge

Thorough and concise

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

My colleague and I have expanded our book partnership to a group of four! So far the family aspect or rather the family-school-child connection seems so crucial in this work. It makes me really want to be attentive to this issue at our school.

This book is full of sound theory in the form of practical examples and suggested starting points for activities. What I love is the authors' attentiveness to listening to and knowing children and families.

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Decent look at teaching multiculturalism to young students

[Mills College Library]

370.117 D435 2011

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

It may sound arrogant of me, but I really do think everyone should read this book - especially if you identify as white. The history and strategies are infinitely valuable.