African American Children Research Articles

Art and Storytelling on the Streets: The Council on Interracial Books for Children’s Use of African American Children’s Literature

From 1970 until 1974, the Council on Interracial Children’s Books (CIBC) ran the Arts and Storytelling in the Streets program throughout New York City. This program involved African American and Puerto Rican artists and storytellers bringing children’s literature directly to children in the streets. This occurred amid a rise in African American children’s literature and educational upheavals in the city as local communities demanded oversight of their schools. Originating in the Ocean Hill-Brownsville district in New York City, the Arts and Storytelling on the Streets program helps to underscore the interrelation between African American children’s literature and educational activism. This article examines how storytelling sessions run by authors and illustrators became extensions of African American children’s literature and educational activism in the city as Black American children’s books became key tools in a fight for a more representative and relevant education. Storytelling teams hoped to use African American children’s literature to help engage children in reading and provide a positive association with literature among local children. The Art and Storytelling program mirrored ideas and themes within African American children’s literature including Black pride, community strength, and resisting white supremacy. The program also became a key extension of the literature as the locations, storytellers, and the audiences all helped to expand upon the impact and many meanings inherent in contemporary African American children’s literature.

Arthritis Among Children and Adolescents Aged

Arthritis affects persons of all ages, including younger adults, adolescents, and children; however, recent arthritis prevalence estimates among children and adolescents aged <18 years are not available. Previous prevalence estimates among U.S. children and adolescents aged <18 years ranged from 21 to 403 per 100,000 population depending upon the case definition used. CDC analyzed aggregated 2017-2021 National Survey of Children's Health data to estimate the national prevalence of parent-reported arthritis diagnosed among children and adolescents aged <18 years. An estimated 220,000 (95% CI = 187,000-260,000) U.S. children and adolescents aged <18 years (305 per 100,000) had diagnosed arthritis. Arthritis prevalence among non-Hispanic Black or African American children and adolescents was twice that of non-Hispanic White children and adolescents. Co-occurring conditions, including depression, anxiety, overweight, physical inactivity, and food insecurity were associated with higher prevalences of arthritis. These findings highlight that children and adolescents should be prioritized for arthritis prevention and treatments by identifying risk factors for arthritis, developing self-management interventions to improve arthritis, physical activity or weight control, and screening and linking to mental health services. Health systems and payors can take steps to ensure equitable access to therapies (e.g., physical therapies and medications).

Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy: Patient Demographics and Postoperative Physical Therapy

BackgroundSelective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) is a surgical procedure that permanently alters lower extremity spasticity, common in children with spastic cerebral palsy (CP). Intensive postoperative physical therapy (PT) is recommended following SDR. The first purpose of this study is to describe and compare patient demographics between children who received SDR and the population of children with CP at one institution. The second purpose of this study is to compare the completed dose of postoperative PT with the clinically recommended dose for a subset of ambulatory children who underwent SDR. MethodsThis retrospective, observational study included 60 children with spastic CP following SDR. A subset (n = 12 ambulatory children) was included to describe the dose of postoperative PT. Information gathered from electronic medical records included age at the time of SDR, sex, Gross Motor Function Classification System level, anatomic distribution, race, county-level habitancy, health insurance provider, timed current procedural terminology codes, and location for postoperative PT encounters within a single institution. ResultsBlack or African American children (P = 0.002), children living in large central metro areas (P = 0.033), and children with public insurance (P ≤ 0.001) were significantly less likely to receive SDR. Children undergoing SDR do not achieve the recommended dose of PT after hospital discharge. ConclusionSDR is not equally accessed by patient populations, and postoperative PT frequency is below current recommendations throughout the rehabilitation process. Future studies need to investigate why these disparities exist and what prevents children from meeting the clinically recommended dose of postoperative PT after SDR.

Generous, egalitarian, and competitive social values: An intercultural, intracommunity analysis of preschoolers

Social values orientation (SVO) refers to stable individual differences in the allocation of resources between self and others. In the present study, an intracommunity sample of preschool-age children was administered two economic dictator games, one pitting cooperation against selfishness and the other generosity against egalitarianism. A third game assessed competitiveness against cooperation. Results revealed that Spanish-speaking Latinx children (collectivistic family background) were more likely to make both cooperative choices and generous choices than a combined subsample of English-speaking Latinx, African American and Caucasian children (non-collectivistic background). These findings suggest that generosity rather than egalitarianism underlies the cooperative tendency of children from collectivist backgrounds. As expected, English-speaking Latinx children (mixed background) were highest on competitiveness. Contrary to predictions, neither cultural background, social values, nor their interaction were associated with teacher-rated child behavioral adjustment. Findings support SVO validity for the intracommunity sample but not its usefulness for predicting behavioral adjustment of preschool students.

PRESERVING THE HISTORY OF AFRICAN AMERICAN EDUCATION: DIGITAL DOCUMENTATION OF ROSENWALD SCHOOLS – A CASE STUDY ON THE TANKERSLEY SCHOOL IN HOPE HULL, ALABAMA, USA

Abstract. Established across the American South between 1917 and 1932, Rosenwald Schools were crucial for providing education to African American children during segregation. Now, many of these structures are abandoned and deteriorating, in urgent need of digital documentation and preservation. This paper introduces an innovative approach for using Matterport technology to capture immersive virtual tours and enhance Heritage Building Information Modeling (HBIM) with high-resolution imagery. The Tankersley Rosenwald School in Hope Hull, Alabama serves as the case study. Additionally, this paper features traditional Reality Capture techniques, such as Terrestrial Laser Scanning and aerial photogrammetry, in combination with Matterport technology to create a detailed HBIM model of the historic school. This model enables architectural and structural analysis, informing suitable stabilization, conservation, and restoration strategies. It also acts as a powerful visualization tool, allowing stakeholders to safely examine the school's architectural, structural, and historical aspects. The virtual tour produced through Matterport provides valuable data for developing an accurate HBIM model in Revit, leading to more effective conservation approaches. The integration of these technologies showcases the potential for digital preservation of built heritage and emphasizes the importance of innovative methods in cultural heritage documentation. By digitally preserving these historically significant schools, this research supports the conservation and restoration of a vital aspect of African American educational history and raises awareness of their cultural importance.

Association of the DNA Methylation of Obesity-Related Genes with the Dietary Nutrient Intake in Children.

The occurrence of obesity stems from both genetic and external influences. Despite thorough research and attempts to address it through various means such as dietary changes, physical activity, education, and medications, a lasting solution to this widespread problem remains elusive. Nutrients play a crucial role in various cellular processes, including the regulation of gene expression. One of the mechanisms by which nutrients can affect gene expression is through DNA methylation. This modification can alter the accessibility of DNA to transcription factors and other regulatory proteins, thereby influencing gene expression. Nutrients such as folate and vitamin B12 are involved in the one-carbon metabolism pathway, which provides the methyl groups necessary for DNA methylation. Studies have shown that the inadequate intake of these nutrients can lead to alterations in DNA methylation patterns. For this study, we aim to understand the differences in the association of the dietary intake between normal weight and overweight/obese children and between European American and African American children with the DNA methylation of the three genes NRF1, FTO, and LEPR. The research discovered a significant association between the nutritional intake of 6-10-years-old children, particularly the methyl donors present in their diet, and the methylation of the NRF1, FTO, and LEPR genes. Additionally, the study emphasizes the significance of considering health inequalities, particularly family income and maternal education, when investigating the epigenetic impact of methyl donors in diet and gene methylation.

Prenatal exposure to polybrominated diphenyl ethers and inattention/hyperactivity symptoms in mid to late adolescents.

Prenatal exposure to polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) has been associated with increased symptoms of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in early to middle childhood, as well as early adolescence. However, data are limited for the long-lasting impact of exposure on outcomes assessed across the entire adolescent period and the sex-specificity of such associations. We investigated the association between continuous natural-log-transformed cord plasma PBDE concentrations and ADHD rating scale 4th edition (ADHD-RS-IV) score from mid adolescence (approximately 11 years old) to late adolescence (approximately 17 years old). The study sample includes a subset (n = 219) of the African American and Dominican children enrolled in the Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health Mothers and Newborns birth cohort. We used generalized estimating equations to account for the repeated measure of ADHD-RS scores. We examined interactions between exposure to PBDE and sex using cross-product terms and sex-stratified models. In addition, we used linear regression using an age-stratified sample as a sensitivity analysis. Associations between prenatal exposure and parents' reports of ADHD symptoms varied by sex (p-interaction <0.20), with positive relationships observed among girls but not boys from sex-stratified models. Our finding suggests prenatal exposure to PBDE may affect ADHD symptoms assessed during middle to late adolescence and the sex-specificity of such impact. Our results can be confirmed by future studies with larger and more diverse samples.

Intergenerational and early life associations of the gut microbiome and stress-related symptomatology among Black American mothers and children

Recent evidence suggests that maternal childhood adversity may have an intergenerational impact, with children of adversity-exposed mothers exhibiting elevated symptoms of psychopathology. At the same time, many children demonstrate resilience to these intergenerational effects. Among the variety of factors that likely contribute to resilience, the composition of the gut microbiome may play a role in buffering the negative impacts of trauma and stress. The current prospective cohort study tested the novel hypothesis that offspring gut microbiome composition is a potential moderator in the relationship between maternal exposure to childhood adversity and offspring symptomatology (i.e., internalizing, externalizing, and posttraumatic stress symptoms). Maternal childhood adversity was self-reported during pregnancy via the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) survey, and offspring symptomatology was assessed with the Child Behavior Checklist/1.5–5 when offspring were 2–4 years old. Offspring fecal samples were collected between these timepoints (i.e., during 6- to 24-month follow-up visits) for microbiome sequencing. Results indicated that maternal ACEs and the relative abundances of Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, and Prevotella were associated with offspring symptomatology. However, there was little evidence that microbial abundance moderated the association between maternal adversity and offspring symptoms. Overall, these findings further our understanding of how the gut microbiome associates with psychopathology, and informs future studies aimed at targeting modifiable factors that may buffer the intergenerational effects of childhood adversity.

“‘You cannot come to this country’—that's what the government says sometimes, when you’re Brown”: African American children's critical literacies and emergent solidarity

Decades of research demonstrate that young children make meaning about race and racism. Yet there remains a dearth of scholarship about whether and how African American children are thinking across racial and ethnic difference to make sense of systemic inequities. Moreover, there are but a handful of scholars who have documented the ways that children and youth engage in acts of solidarity. Extending the growing body of literature that privileges young children of color's critical perspectives, this article examines African American first-graders’ sociopolitical awareness; in particular, it explores how they expressed their understanding that racial discrimination undergirded contemporary US immigration policies. These data reveal that the children possessed a capacity for demonstrating solidarity with other non-white people, in that they named and critiqued the marginalization experienced by immigrant communities of color. Drawing on Black feminist epistemologies, critical literacy, and critical consciousness, the author argues that the children's emergent solidarity can be understood through their three rhetorical moves: (1) interchanging Black and Brown people in name; (2) advancing a critical moral ideal by juxtaposing current and former political leaders; and (3) invoking knowledge of US history. Although popular media and political discourse seldom portray immigration as an issue that concerns Black communities in the US, African Americans have long understood that their own liberation is connected to that of other marginalized groups. As such, this article urges early childhood researchers to examine the nature of the questions being asked about young African American children's racial meaning-making practices and knowledges about belonging, equity, and inclusion within and outside schools.

:Beyond the Boundaries of Childhood: African American Children in the Antebellum North

:<i>Beyond the Boundaries of Childhood: African American Children in the Antebellum North</i>

Genetic control of the dynamic transcriptional response to immune stimuli and glucocorticoids at single-cell resolution.

Synthetic glucocorticoids, such as dexamethasone, have been used as a treatment for many immune conditions, such as asthma and, more recently, severe COVID-19. Single-cell data can capture more fine-grained details on transcriptional variability and dynamics to gain a better understanding of the molecular underpinnings of inter-individual variation in drug response. Here, we used single-cell RNA-seq to study the dynamics of the transcriptional response to glucocorticoids in activated peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 96 African American children. We used novel statistical approaches to calculate a mean-independent measure of gene expression variability and a measure of transcriptional response pseudotime. Using these approaches, we showed that glucocorticoids reverse the effects of immune stimulation on both gene expression mean and variability. Our novel measure of gene expression response dynamics, based on the diagonal linear discriminant analysis, separated individual cells by response status on the basis of their transcriptional profiles and allowed us to identify different dynamic patterns of gene expression along the response pseudotime. We identified genetic variants regulating gene expression mean and variability, including treatment-specific effects, and showed widespread genetic regulation of the transcriptional dynamics of the gene expression response.

0236 Assessing the Impact of Race and Income on Children's Sleep Habits

Abstract Introduction Ample research supports the need for adequate sleep to develop normal physical and mental health throughout childhood. While objective sleep monitoring is ideal, it is not always practical in real-world settings. Therefore, subjective reports provide a more realistic alternative. The validated Children’s Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ) requires parents/caregivers to retrospectively report sleep quality in school-aged children. In a nation-wide study, we compared CSHQ ratings to determine any relationship with sleep quality and demographic variables. Methods CSHQ and demographic questionnaires were completed for n=152 children (ages 3-12y, 63% Male, 37% female), 45% African American and 55% Caucasian. Means of CSHQ scores and demographic variables were compared using independent t-tests and chi-square test of independence. Results Overall, African American children had lower reported sleep quality compared to Caucasian children (t150= -3.77, p&amp;lt; 0.001). Additionally, reported sleep quality was lower in households earning less than 100K compared to those earning more than 100K (t146= 2.69, p&amp;lt; 0.01), with more African American families earning less than 100K compared to Caucasian families (Χ2(1) = 11.99, p &amp;lt; 0.001). Conclusion Our results are consistent with previous research indicating that African American children have lower reported sleep quality than their Caucasian counterparts. While families with lower income report higher rates of sleep disturbance, this appears to be more prevalent in African American households. Although significantly different, both groups reported high levels of sleep disturbance, highlighting the need for general sleep education as well as the development of interventions tailored to different ethnic groups and demographic levels. Support (if any) Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine Dean’s Excellence Award Scholarship

The Lasting Effects of Early-Childhood Education on Promoting the Skills and Social Mobility of Disadvantaged African Americans and Their Children.

This paper demonstrates the long-term intragenerational and intergenerational benefits of the HighScope Perry Preschool Project, which targeted disadvantaged African-American children. We use newly collected data on the original participants through late middle age and on their children into their mid-twenties. We document long-lasting improvements in the original participants' skills, marriage stability, earnings, criminal behavior, and health. Beneficial program impacts through the childrearing years translate into better family environments for their children leading to intergenerational gains. Children of the original participants have higher levels of education and employment, lower levels of criminal activity, and better health than children of the controls.

Injury Patterns, Imaging Usage, and Disparities Associated With Car Restraint Use in Children.

Motor vehicle collision (MVC) is a leading cause of accidental death in children. Despite effective forms of child safety restraint (eg, car seat and booster seat), studies demonstrate poor compliance with guidelines. The goal of this study was to delineate injury patterns, imaging usage, and potential demographic disparities associated with child restraint use following MVC. A retrospective review of the North Carolina Trauma Registry was performed to determine demographic factors and outcomes associated with improper restraint of children (0-8years) involved in MVC from 2013 to 2018. Bivariate analysis was performed by the appropriateness of restraint. Multivariable Poisson regression identified demographic factors for the relative risk of inappropriate restraint. Inappropriately restrained patients were older (5.1years v. 3.6yrs, P < .001) and weighed more (44.1lbs v. 35.3lbs, P < .001). A higher proportion of African American (56.9% v. 39.3%, P < .001) and Medicaid (52.2% v. 39.0%, P < .001) patients were inappropriately restrained. Multivariable Poisson regression showed that African American patients (RR 1.43), Asian patients (RR 1.51), and Medicaid payor status (RR 1.25) were associated with a higher risk of inappropriate restraint. Inappropriately restrained patients had a longer length of stay, but injury severity score and mortality were no different. African American children, Asian children, and Medicaid insurance payor status patients had an increased risk of inappropriate restraint use in MVC. This study describes unequal restraint patterns in children, which suggests opportunity for targeted patient education and necessitates research to further delineate the underlying etiology of these differences.

Novel Differentially Methylated Regions Identified by Genome-Wide DNA Methylation Analyses Contribute to Racial Disparities in Childhood Obesity.

The magnitude of the childhood obesity epidemic and its effects on public health has accelerated the pursuit of practical preventative measures. Epigenetics is one subject that holds a lot of promise, despite being relatively new. The study of potentially heritable variations in gene expression that do not require modifications to the underlying DNA sequence is known as epigenetics. Here, we used Illumina MethylationEPIC BeadChip Array to identify differentially methylated regions in DNA isolated from saliva between normal weight (NW) and overweight/obese (OW/OB) children and between European American (EA) and African American (AA) children. A total of 3133 target IDs (associated with 2313 genes) were differentially methylated (p < 0.05) between NW and OW/OB children. In OW/OB children, 792 target IDs were hypermethylated and 2341 were hypomethylated compared to NW. Similarly, in the racial groups EA and AA, a total of 1239 target IDs corresponding to 739 genes were significantly differentially methylated in which 643 target IDs were hypermethylated and 596 were hypomethylated in the AA compared to EA participants. Along with this, the study identified novel genes that could contribute to the epigenetic regulation of childhood obesity.

Trends in Drug Tests among Children: A 22-Year Retrospective Analysis.

There are several pathophysiological outcomes associated with substance abuse including metabolic disbalance, neurodegeneration, and disordered redox. Drug use in pregnant women is a topic of great concern due to developmental harm which may occur during gestation and the associated complications in the neonate after delivery. We sought to determine what the trajectory of drug use is like in children aged 0-4 years and mothers of neonates. Urine drug screen (UDS) results were obtained of our target demographic during 1998-2011 and 2012-2019 from LSU Health Sciences Center in Shreveport (LSUHSC-S). Statistical analysis was performed using R software. We observed an increase in cannabinoid-positive UDS results in both Caucasian (CC) and African American (AA) groups between 1998-2011 and 2012-2019 periods. Cocaine-positive UDS results decreased in both cohorts. CC children had higher UDS positive results for opiates, benzodiazepines, and amphetamines, while AA children had a higher percentage for illicit drugs such as cannabinoids and cocaine. Neonate's mothers had similar UDS trends to that in children during 2012-2019. Overall, while percentage of positive UDS results for both AA and CC 0-4 year old children started to decline for opiate, benzodiazepine, and cocaine during 2012-2019, cannabinoid- and amphetamine (CC)-positive UDS steadily increased. These results suggest a shift in the type of drug use by mothers from opiates, benzodiazepines, and cocaine to cannabinoids and/or amphetamines. We also observed that 18-year-old females who tested positive for opiates, benzodiazepine, or cocaine had higher than average chances of testing positive for cannabinoids later in life.

Linguistic illusions and misconceptions: The role of language variation in language development across three varieties of American English

Prior research on the linguistic abilities of Southern English- (SE) and African-American English-speaking children (SAAE) revealed unexpectedly high rates of risk for a language disorder (Christodoulou &amp; Tsimpli 2021; Moland &amp; Oetting 2021). This study examines the performance of 139 SE-, 46 SAAE-, and 35 Mainstream American English-speaking children (MAE), aged 2-13, and analyzes their performance, through twelve sections, in four key linguistic domains: syntax, semantics, pragmatics, and phonology, using a standardized assessment test. Results revealed a parallel performance across the three groups in all linguistic domains. The highest means of accuracy were noted with phonology and the lowest with semantics. Analysis of the participants’ performance by age evidenced a virtually identical performance across the three groups after age 6 or 7, but considerable variations were noted with younger children. Results from the current study contradict results from previous work showing considerably high rates of risk for a language disorder for the SAAE-speaking children, as their performance is parallel to not only that of SE-speaking children but it also the performance of MAE-speaking children. Results from the current study could help guide educational policies, especially for early education programs, as well as diagnostic assessment and rehabilitation.

Teachers' and Black students' views on the incorporation of African American children's literature in an after‐school book club: collaborative and culturally based learning

AbstractIt has been suggested that culturally relevant literature can be beneficial to elementary school students' learning. Yet, less research has focused on African American students' perspectives of that literature, including aspects of that engagement that may benefit their learning. Therefore, the main goal centred on US elementary school students' perspectives of African American children's literature in an after‐school book club. There were 15 second‐ and third‐grade African American students from a low‐income area who participated in the 6‐week book club. The book club sessions were recorded, student artefacts were collected and a focus group was held with students. Following the book club, there were two classroom teachers interviewed along with an after‐school teacher facilitator. Based on the analysis, four themes were found. These focused on increased reading motivation, the role of cultural and personal associations with literature for comprehending, engagement in communal learning and improved access to culturally relevant texts. The results extend previous research on the importance of social collaboration and culturally relevant books to promote motivation and reading comprehension among learners and highlight the value of collaborative and culturally based learning for Black children in the American context.

Teaching Phonemic and Phonological Awareness to Children Who Speak African American English

ABSTRACTThere is tremendous variation in the use of American English by major geographic regions, as well as within these regions or cities, and by cultural background. The variety of English spoken by many African American people in the United States is called African American English (AAE). AAE affects early literacy skills in ways that may require differentiated classroom instruction that focuses on integrating this important language variety into both teaching and learning. The purpose of this paper is to: (1) present the characteristics of AAE and its relationship to the development of reading; (2) outline the impact of AAE on foundational language and reading skills, especially phonemic and phonological awareness; and, (3) provide some guidance for addressing variation in the classroom when teaching phonemic and phonological awareness, while simultaneously affirming African American children's identitities by acknowledging and celebrating the language strengths they bring to the classroom.

Executive Functions and Morphological Awareness Explain the Shared Variance between Word Reading and Listening Comprehension

ABSTRACT Purpose A large body of literature showed that word reading and listening comprehension-two proximal predictors of reading comprehension according to the simple view of reading – are related. Grounded on the direct and indirect effects model of reading, we examined the extent to which the relation is explained by domain-general cognitions or executive functions (working memory and attentional control) and emergent literacy skills (language and code-related skills including morphological awareness, phonological awareness, orthographic pattern recognition, letter naming fluency, and rapid automatized naming). Method Data were from English-speaking children in Grade 1 (N = 372; 52% boys; 60% White children, 26% African American children, 6% multiracial children, 6% Hispanic children, and 2% Asian American children). Results Results from structural equation models showed that word reading and listening comprehension were moderately related (.54). When working memory and attentional control were included as predictors, the relation became weaker (.39). When morphological awareness was additionally included, they were no longer related (.05). The other emergent literacy skills did not add explanatory power beyond executive functions and morphological awareness. Conclusion These results indicate that executive functions and morphological awareness largely explain the shared variance between word reading and listening comprehension for English-speaking beginning readers.