ABSTRACT
This chapter introduces the core principle—the importance of Acknowledging Systems of Privilege and Oppression and Taking Actions to Disrupt Inequity. The authors begin by describing the importance of increasing awareness and understanding of oppression. They define oppression and provide examples of different forms of oppression and minoritized and dominant groups. They discuss how racial trauma is a form of oppression that is too often not acknowledged or discussed but significantly impacts the experience of children and families in early childhood programs and systems. The authors explain how before we can build trust with families—especially those traditionally marginalized—we must acknowledge and name the harms and trauma that have, and continue to, impact them and fuel their feelings of distrust with systems, programs, schools and services. The authors then describe the need to acknowledge and reduce power differentials in communication and interactions with families, a shift at the heart of moving from traditional parent involvement to family engagement approaches. They discuss several actions early childhood professionals can take to “even the playing field” and decrease the power differential in their work with families. The chapter includes several examples of what this principle looks like in the context of everyday practice.
