Publication Date

1-7-2025

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.

Comments

This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Bilingual Research Journal: The Journal of the National Association for Bilingual Education on 2025-01-07, available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/15235882.2024.2441796.

Department

Teacher Education

Available for download on Tuesday, July 07, 2026

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