Representations and Guidelines in Early Childhood Plenarinha Sessions: An Investigation into Antiracist Education (Federal District, 2014–2024)
Plenarinha; racial literacy; early childhood education; ethnic-racial diversity
This study sought to understand how antiracist education is incorporated into preschool settings in the Federal District, analyzing twelve publications of the Guias das Plenarinhas (2014- 2024), following Law No. 10,639/2003, and the Political Pedagogical Projects (PPP) of early childhood education institutions affiliated with the Regional Education Coordination (CRE) of the Administrative Region of Ceilândia. The purpose of this research is to encourage a discussion on whether the guidelines provided in the Guias das Plenarinhas are truly sufficient and effective for teacher training, under the premise of fostering racial identity and representation that support an authentically antiracist practice—one that extends beyond the month of November and contributes to establishing schools as social spaces committed to combating racism. The research proposal presented here is justified by the lack of studies on racial literacy stemming from the Plenarinha publications. Ceilândia was chosen as the field for PPP analysis due to the socioeconomic and racial profile of its population, as well as being the largest educational region in the Federal District. The study followed a qualitative approach, relying on documentary analysis of both publications and political pedagogical projects. Through qualitative research with documentary analysis, this study sought to determine whether these guides incorporate racial markers and propose a genuinely antiracist approach in early childhood education practices. The findings indicate that while antiracist education is not addressed comprehensively and in depth in most guides and political pedagogical projects, it is not entirely invisible, as it receives limited, sporadic attention within these materials. In light of these findings, it is crucial that antiracist education assumes a prominent role to help overcome racial inequalities.