(Missed) opportunities to build solidarity: A critical analysis of Spanish-English bilingual children’s books
Publication Date
1-1-2025
Document Type
Article
Publication Title
Bilingual Research Journal
DOI
10.1080/15235882.2024.2441796
Abstract
Two-way dual language (TWDL) programs have traditionally served white and non-Black Latinx students, with limited attention to other cultures and races. This limitation can result in the erasure of Afro-Latinx culture from bilingual programs. This study explores the ways Black characters are represented in bilingual picturebooks, which can serve to perpetuate or combat anti-blackness within bilingual education. We completed a critical content analysis of Spanish-English bilingual picturebooks that include Black or Afro-Latinx characters, employing LatCrit and BlackCrit theoretical frameworks to explore how Black characters are positioned. Findings show a significant dearth of bilingual books that include Black or Afro-Latinx characters. Additionally, in the 18 books identified, there was a wide range in how the Black characters were positioned, from passive receivers of white authority to activists working toward social justice. Implications for bilingual education programs are discussed.
Department
Teacher Education
Recommended Citation
Claudia Rodriguez-Mojica and Allison Briceño. "(Missed) opportunities to build solidarity: A critical analysis of Spanish-English bilingual children’s books" Bilingual Research Journal (2025). https://doi.org/10.1080/15235882.2024.2441796
