The Politicization of Childhood

JASEN FRELOT

 

 Jasen Frelot is the founder and director of Kids & Race. Jasen is a community organizer, father, early childhood educator, and social justice advocate based in Seattle. Over the past three years, he has made Kids & Race a full time job. Having been featured in Parent Map Magazine and on NPR’s Seattle affiliate KUOW, the program has served over 2000 people to date, and rising every month. His various actions around race and social justice have made front page news in Seattle and have been featured on the local news on numerous occasions. He has 15 years of experience working with children in various capacities.

 

CENTERING WISDOM

  1. Reflection:  How do authority figures continue to force children who hold certain identities to grow up faster than necessary by using their identities in inappropriate ways? (Ex. The kindergarten teacher) How can you, as a possible authority figure, prevent this?

  2. Reflection: Why are children never shocked by their mistakes? How can we bring this back into adulthood?

  3. Activity: Discuss why children’s perspectives are important among a small group, consider times when you felt like your opinion was honored or ignored as a child and how that affected you.

 

CHECK OUT THESE LINKS

Children's Play Co-Opted Links to an external site.

How Racism Harms Children Links to an external site.

Anti-Racist Books for all Children and Teens Links to an external site.