The Influence of Culturally Authentic Children's Books On the Self-Esteem and Racial Preferences of Elementary School Students

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2014

School

Education

Abstract

The present study examined whether exposure to culturally authentic African American children's books improved the selfesteem of Black children and racial preferences of White children by measuring children's self-esteem and racial preferences before and after they read either culturally authentic African American children's books or control books. Participants were 87 elementary school students in Mississippi (41 boys, 46 girls). Results showed that simple exposure to the culturally authentic children's books did not improve the self-esteem or racial preferences of children and actually led Black children to report lower levels of scholastic competence. Results are attributed to the induction of stereotype threat.

Publication Title

Revue Internationale de Psychologie Sociale

Volume

27

Issue

3-4

First Page

227

Last Page

238

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