Celebrating Black Identity in Children’s Literature w/ Dr. Gamze Ar

Dr. Gamze Ar, Tenured Lecturer at Bartin University with a Ph.D. in American Culture and Literature, specializes in African American children’s literature and themes of identity, race, and cultural representation. In this engaging research talk, she examines how Jacqueline Woodson’s picture books including The Day You Begin, The Year We Learned to Fly, and We Had a Picnic This Sunday Past craft empowering portrayals of Black childhood. Drawing on Critical Race Theory and identity formation frameworks, Dr. Ar reveals how Woodson’s narratives center Black joy, voice, memory, and cultural belonging. Through this lens, she invites us to consider how children’s literature can shape young readers' understanding of race, resilience, and community.