Date of Award
2025
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Education (Ph.D)
Department
Education Specialties
First Advisor
Bonnie Johnson
Second Advisor
Danielle DiMarco
Third Advisor
Shoshana Cohen-Fraade
Abstract
Family literacy plays an essential role in a child's educational journey by laying the foundation for their academic success and shaping their attitudes toward learning. Social and cultural factors influence the value of literacy and education within families and communities. In Black communities, literacy has significant social and cultural influences, acting as a tool for resistance, empowerment, cultural preservation, identity formation, community building, and social and economic mobility while also historically facing obstacles due to systemic and institutional racism, which continues to impact access to education, resources, and opportunities today. This qualitative study explores the relationship between home and school literacy practices within Black families in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia to identify areas where they align or disconnect, which will inform more culturally responsive practices. It also explores the connection between historical events, such as slavery and systemic oppression, the ways they have disrupted the Black family structure, and reduced the perceived value of literacy within Black communities. This research also examines how Black parents' educational experiences shape their approach to literacy development, academic achievement, and parent involvement. The strategies used by Black parents to overcome barriers like systemic racism, socioeconomic challenges, deficit narratives, biases, or negative stereotypes in being involved in their children's education are also explored. Grounded in the Emancipatory Theory, Critical Race Theory, Intersectionality Theory, and Community Cultural Wealth Model, this study will highlight the intergenerational strengths that Black parents rely on to support their children's academic success. Amplifying the voices of Black families challenges the dominant narratives in society through sharing their experiences and stories. This dissertation will contribute to the existing research and discourse on family literacy and parental involvement while offering actionable strategies and recommendations to better acknowledge and leverage the cultural wealth within Black communities, continuing the pursuit for intentional educational change.
Recommended Citation
Baldwin, Tasean D., "UNRAVELING THE ROOTS: A HISTORICAL AND SOCIOCULTURAL PERSPECTIVE OF FAMILY LITERACY PRACTICES AND PARENT INVOLVEMENT IN BLACK COMMUNITIES THROUGH A CRITICAL LENS" (2025). Theses and Dissertations. 987.
https://scholar.stjohns.edu/theses_dissertations/987