February 5, 2025
Mamie Phipps Clark and Black History Month
Truth is powerful and it prevails.
– Sojourner Truth
In recognition of Black History Month, NAEYC is encouraging us all to learn more about early Black leaders in the early care and education field by providing information on a number of people. Here’s one offering:
“Learn about the foundational research of Mamie Phipps Clark, an African American scholar in the 20th century. While child development texts and courses often feature White theorists such as Piaget and Vygotsky, the field of early learning should know about the significant contributions of Clark. Clark had a remarkable career of over 40 years as a scholar, an early childhood educator, a humanitarian, and a philanthropist in Washington, DC, and New York City. She was a pioneer researcher in her own right who worked determinedly for generations of children and women, preparing the way for school integration in the United States. Most significantly, she was the originator of and a collaborator with her research partner and husband, Kenneth Bancroft Clark, on the renowned 1930s and 1940s doll studies. These were indispensable to the landmark Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education that outlawed segregation in US public schools.”
NAEYC provides this link to a number of resources to support early care and education professionals during Black History month and beyond.
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