We Were Not Built to Break: Racially Affirming Care for Black Children, Families, and Communities - Softcover

Daniel, Beverly-jean

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1773385100 ISBN 13: 9781773385105

Publisher: Canadian Scholars Pr, 2025

Synopsis

We Were Not Built to Break: Racially Affirming Care for Black Children, Families, and Communities offers social service and education providers who work with Black children, youth, and families a critical understanding of the ways in which race and racism influence the experiences and outcomes of Black children, youth, and families. This book addresses the documented disproportionate representation of Black families in child welfare systems, where they often face excessive surveillance, family separations, and systemic pathologization. This project seeks to disrupt these problematic narratives by intentionally focusing on the strengths, capacities, and capabilities of Black communities, which have been foundational to their survival for generations.

Most workers who are involved in the lives of Black children—ECEs, CYCs, social workers, teachers, or healthcare providers—are seldom members of Black communities and are trained using perspectives and curriculum that remain culturally and racially irrelevant. Recognizing these challenges, this book seeks to provide current and future practitioners with concise, easily accessible, detailed information that can enhance their engagement with Black families. Dr. Daniel explores the role of ‘race’ as a socially constructed marker in Canada, examines the impact of racism on Black communities, and introduces alternative frameworks that highlight resilience, cultural identity, and community strengths.

We Were Not Built to Break is intended for Child and Youth Care, Social Work, ECE, Teacher Education, and Psychology programs within universities and colleges in Canada.

About this title

From the Back Cover

From teachers and youth workers to police officers and child welfare staff, front-line workers are responsible for providing care and addressing the needs of Black children, youth, and families. However, they can only effectively do this when they are aware of the obstacles and constraints that racialized people face. We Were Not Built to Break is essential reading for understanding the disproportionate representation of Black families and communities in child welfare systems and the many forms of cultural wealth and resiliency that have fostered the survival of these communities in the face of these adversities.

Through its analysis of “race” as a social marker within the Canadian context, this timely text critically examines alternative modes of providing care that centre the strengths and capacities of Black children, youth, and families. Beverly-Jean Daniel introduces readers to new approaches for navigating systemic racism while working with Black communities to mitigate the negative experiences and outcomes often encountered in social service systems. With illustrative case studies, discussion questions, and a glossary of critical terms, this is a perfect classroom resource for child and youth care, social work, early childhood education, teacher education, and psychology courses that emphasize working with families and teaching anti-oppressive practices.

Edition details

• Publisher: Canadian Scholars Pr
• Publication date: 2025
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1773385100
• ISBN 13: 9781773385105
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 200