AnneMarie McClain, Assistant Professor of Media Science at Boston University, studies children’s media, with a particular focus on diversity and representation.
In this episode of Raising Questions, she talks about what her research reveals about Black parents’ preferences for children’s media.
She found that many parents not only want their children to see diverse, positive and affirming representation, but also value age-appropriate depictions of racism, provided they are handled thoughtfully. Such stories can give parents a way to start conversations about racism with their children.
AnneMarie also discusses how parents can respond when children encounter stereotypes or harmful content, and what streaming platforms and content creators can do to create more authentic and inclusive children’s media.