We Were Not Built to Break: Racially Affirming Care for Black Children, Families, and Communities provides Child and Youth Care workers with a critical understanding of the ways in which race and racism influences 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.
Most workers who are involved in the lives of Black children—ECEs, CYCs, social workers, teachers, or healthcare workers—are not from Black communities and are trained using perspectives and curriculum that lack cultural relevance. Recognizing these challenges, this book seeks to provide future workers with brief, easily accessible information to enhance engagement with Black families. Dr. Daniel explores the role of ‘race’ as a social marker in Canada, examines the impact of racism on Black communities, and introduces alternative frameworks that highlight resilience, cultural identity, and community strength.
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.
Preface
Chapter 1: Introduction and definition of terms
Chapter 2: Historical context of oppression and enslavement
Chapter 3: The Context of Black Canadian children, youth, and families
Chapter 4: Power, law, economics and child welfare
Chapter 5: Mental health and well-being of Black children, youth and families
Chapter 6: The role of assessments in addressing racial trauma
Chapter 7: Black community strengths, capacities and forms of cultural wealth
Chapter 8: Articulating new paradigms for working with Black children, youth and families
Chapter 9: Addressing race and racism in working with Black children youth and families
Chapter 10: Positive Black Racial Identity Socialization
Glossary of terms
References
Beverly-Jean Daniel is a Professor in the Community and Justice Services Program at Humber College in Toronto. For over 20 years, her academic work has investigated and conceptualized race, racism and equity. In 2012, Dr. Daniel founded and developed The Bridge, a groundbreaking student engagement and retention program at Humber College. This program, the first of its kind in any Canadian college or University, identifies the types of programming and strategies that are necessary to foster and enhance academic success in post-secondary institutions amongst students who self-identify as African, Black, and Caribbean.
