Redefining Parenting Through a Revolutionary Lens
As an experienced educational writer, I’m honored to present this in-depth interview with Jalessah T. Jackson, a passionate advocate for “parenting for liberation.” In this article, we’ll explore Jalessah’s insights on how parents can nurture their children’s growth while instilling a commitment to justice and liberation.
Parenting as a Revolutionary Act
Jalessah T. Jackson defines “parenting for liberation” as an “embodied practice” rooted in revolutionary love. At its core, it involves a profound commitment to self-reflection, accountability, and a dedication to creating an environment where children can develop a strong sense of self, critical thinking skills, and the capacity to challenge injustices.
“For me, it begins with reflecting on my own childhood to explore what I appreciated about how I was parented and identifying which aspects positively contributed to my development,” Jalessah explains. “It is from the place of reflection that I have been able to distinguish my own parenting values and objectives of creating an environment where my children can develop a strong sense of self, critical thinking skills, and the capacity to question and challenge injustices.”
Jalessah’s political perspective underwent a transformative shift after becoming a mother in 2012. Navigating the realities of poverty, single parenthood, and the healthcare system’s biases towards marginalized communities deepened her understanding of the barriers that working-class parents face. These experiences fueled her anti-capitalist, anti-patriarchal, and anti-imperialist politics, which now inform her approach to parenting and community engagement.
Learning from Children
Jalessah believes that children possess invaluable lessons about liberation, and she sees her role as a parent as one of learning alongside her children. “Through being as present as I can be and observing them without judgment and being quick to ‘correct’ them, my children teach me so much through modeling,” she shares.
Jalessah highlights qualities like empathy, compassion, curiosity, and open-mindedness that children often model, serving as a reminder to adults about the importance of understanding, embracing diverse perspectives, and remaining committed to ongoing learning.
“Some of my favorite qualities about my own children include their understanding of fairness and their practices of honesty and authenticity,” Jalessah says. “Their authenticity can remind the adults in their life of the value of transparency and honesty. I draw inspiration from these qualities and think it can encourage adults to question their own assumptions and to remain curious, committed to truth-telling, and open to ongoing learning.”
Navigating the Challenges of Schooling
One of the significant challenges Jalessah has faced in her parenting journey is navigating the educational system, which she believes is primarily committed to teaching “compliance, conformity, and subservience to the state.” To address this, Jalessah has adopted a proactive approach, supplementing her child’s school curriculum with additional readings and projects that explore important historical narratives often omitted or misrepresented in the standard curriculum.
“I felt it important to be in the know about what she was learning so that I was prepared to provide a counter-narrative,” Jalessah explains. “I often visited my child at school, and was in regular communications with their educators and administrators, addressing any and every issue that came up. I feel that this communicated to their educators that my children and the children under my care, had adults in their lives who were ready and willing to show up for and advocate for them.”
When the COVID-19 pandemic forced schools to transition to virtual learning, Jalessah saw an opportunity to deepen her involvement in her child’s education. This experience prompted her to consider how her child might benefit from more personalized, project-based, and experiential learning. Ultimately, Jalessah decided to homeschool, recognizing the limitations of the traditional schooling model and the need for more collaborative, community-oriented approaches to education.
Envisioning a Revolutionary Political Education
Jalessah’s vision for a revolutionary political education prioritizes critical pedagogy, which encourages both children and adults to question and challenge dominant ideologies and power structures. This approach involves teaching children to think critically about their world, uncover hidden and subjugated knowledge, and recognize oppression.
“A revolutionary political education would necessarily involve children in decision-making processes about their learning environment and community,” Jalessah explains. “Cultivating collaboration and cooperative learning would be prioritized to assist in the development of skills in communication, comradeship, and mutual support.”
Such programs would operate as democratic communities where children’s voices are valued, and adults and children work together to create rules, solve problems, and plan activities. This emphasis on learning through engagement, dialogue, and action empowers both children and adults with the knowledge and agency to improve their communities.
Liberated Parenting and Community Care
Jalessah believes that liberating parenting from the nuclear family model is a crucial step towards more creative and supportive communities of care. She envisions a shift away from the heteronormative, colonial-capitalist imposition of the nuclear family and a return to community-based, intergenerational, and holistic methods of raising children.
“Parenting was never meant to be the sole responsibility of one or even two people, and parenting for Black families and in Black communities has always meant queering these norms to meet our survival needs,” Jalessah says. “A liberated approach embraces communal, intergenerational, and holistic methods of raising children as well as caring for our aging family members, focusing on collective well-being, and cultural continuity.”
This approach values the contributions of extended family members, community elders, and chosen family, fostering a sense of community responsibility and support. Importantly, Jalessah also emphasizes the need to honor and value the essential, yet often invisible, labor of social reproduction work, including caregiving and domestic tasks, as fundamental to the functioning of society and the success of liberation movements.
Resources for Parenting Towards Liberation
While Jalessah hasn’t personally utilized many formal support structures, she is deeply interested in supporting the creation and sustenance of such resources in her local community. She is inspired by the work of childcare collectives in other cities and the potential they hold for building collaborative, community-driven models of care.
In terms of educational resources, Jalessah and her family are avid readers, with a particular focus on books that promote critical thinking, inclusive narratives, and sex education. Some of their favorites include:
- “Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You” by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi
- “The Skin We’re In” by Desmond Cole
- “Sex Ed on the Cards” educational card set
- “Talking Point” discussion card game
Jalessah also emphasizes the importance of creating space for “uncomfortable conversations” with young people, addressing topics like sexuality, consent, and relationships that are often neglected in traditional educational settings.
As an experienced community-based educator, Jalessah’s work exemplifies the interrelationship between study and struggle, offering a powerful model for parents seeking to nurture their children’s liberation. By embracing a revolutionary approach to parenting, Jalessah and others like her are forging new pathways towards a more just and equitable future.
If you’re interested in learning more about Jalessah’s work or accessing additional resources, please visit the Stanley Park High School website or reach out to our team for further information.
