Let's Normalize Seeing Humanity First: An Anti-Racist Guide for Working with Parents and Families in Schools

Essential for teachers, administrators, afterschool workers and school leaders, this book offers a necessary roadmap for creating educational spaces rooted in justice, equity, and collective liberation. Let's Normalize Seeing Humanity First: An Anti-Racist Guide for Working with Parents and Families in Schools serves as a critical guide for educators seeking to develop anti-racist practices that center on the humanity of students and their families. Too often, schools view parent engagement through a deficit lens, failing to recognize the cultural wealth and resilience within communities of color. Drawing from historical contexts, national uprisings, and the renewed urgency for justice, this book explores how educators can move beyond traditional notions of “parent involvement” and instead foster authentic partnerships with families. Through a framework of anti-racist praxis, the book challenges educators to interrogate their biases, recognize systemic barriers, and build meaningful relationships that empower students and their caregivers.

Dani Parker Moore, Ph.D., is a scholar, educator, and researcher specializing in parent engagement and community-based education. As the founder and director of the Wake Forest University Freedom School, USA, she brings extensive expertise in working with families, educators, and communities to advance equity in education.