Why are most daycares around here have a predominantly black staff?

[Anonymous]

Sorry, fixed typos.

You are the one who is new here. African Americans are not. We are foundational to this country, have been here since before its existence, have fought in its wars, have played a part in building it up economically and socially. We don’t have to explain why we exist or are in a particular place at a given time. Just because you don't understand, doesn't mean there is a problem. You may prefer to see white faces or faces that look like yours in the centers, possibly reflecting the values in your own country, but you are not in your country.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You are the one who is new here. African Americans are not we are foundational to this country, have been here since before its existence, have fought in its wars, have played a part in building it up economically and socially. We don’t have to explain why we exist or are in a particular place at a given time. Just because you don't understand, doesn't mean there is a problem. You may prefer to see white faces or faves that look like yours in the centers, possibly reflecting the values in your own country, but you are not in your country.

All that time here hasn’t helped with reading comprehension, clearly. OP didn’t say anything negative about it, or ask anyone to “explain why they exist.” Grow up.

[Anonymous]

DC is about 40% black (and 40% white) so if you’re from a whiter country it’s likely to seem very black to you. Due to the history of slavery and discrimination, black people on average are more likely to be poor, more likely to have limited access to higher education, abd more likely to be discriminated against in white collar professions. As such, childcare (being a fairly low paying job that can have entrance positions with lower skill requirements) is a career that is accessible.
A reasonable number of people who start out as babysitters and then become daycare teachers really like the work but want to be paid more and get involved in the administrative side of things. The daycare my kids go to has entirely black staff as it happens; they’re all absolutely wonderful.

Also worth noting the black culture is not a monolith — several of my kids’ teachers are DC natives born and raised, others are immigrants from Jamaica and Kenya and Mexico, others are from other parts of the US.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You are the one who is new here. African Americans are not we are foundational to this country, have been here since before its existence, have fought in its wars, have played a part in building it up economically and socially. We don’t have to explain why we exist or are in a particular place at a given time. Just because you don't understand, doesn't mean there is a problem. You may prefer to see white faces or faves that look like yours in the centers, possibly reflecting the values in your own country, but you are not in your country.

All that time here hasn’t helped with reading comprehension, clearly. OP didn’t say anything negative about it, or ask anyone to “explain why they exist.” Grow up.

If OP did not see it as a problem, OP would not have brought it up. She kept on looking at childcare center websites for an "alternative" and did not find one, hence her question.

Oh, she is welcome to join us in caregiving professions!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC is about 40% black (and 40% white) so if you’re from a whiter country it’s likely to seem very black to you. Due to the history of slavery and discrimination, black people on average are more likely to be poor, more likely to have limited access to higher education, abd more likely to be discriminated against in white collar professions. As such, childcare (being a fairly low paying job that can have entrance positions with lower skill requirements) is a career that is accessible.
A reasonable number of people who start out as babysitters and then become daycare teachers really like the work but want to be paid more and get involved in the administrative side of things. The daycare my kids go to has entirely black staff as it happens; they’re all absolutely wonderful.

Also worth noting the black culture is not a monolith — several of my kids’ teachers are DC natives born and raised, others are immigrants from Jamaica and Kenya and Mexico, others are from other parts of the US.

But yes, given what you acknowledged in your last paragraph, there isn't such a thing as black culture. As an African American person who has had family in the country since the 1700s, I do share culture with a Kenyan immigrant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC is about 40% black (and 40% white) so if you’re from a whiter country it’s likely to seem very black to you. Due to the history of slavery and discrimination, black people on average are more likely to be poor, more likely to have limited access to higher education, abd more likely to be discriminated against in white collar professions. As such, childcare (being a fairly low paying job that can have entrance positions with lower skill requirements) is a career that is accessible.
A reasonable number of people who start out as babysitters and then become daycare teachers really like the work but want to be paid more and get involved in the administrative side of things. The daycare my kids go to has entirely black staff as it happens; they’re all absolutely wonderful.

Also worth noting the black culture is not a monolith — several of my kids’ teachers are DC natives born and raised, others are immigrants from Jamaica and Kenya and Mexico, others are from other parts of the US.

But yes, given what you acknowledged in your last paragraph, there isn't such a thing as black culture. As an African American person who has had family in the country since the 1700s, I do not share culture with a Kenyan immigrant.

Darn it I cannot see tonight need new reading glasses!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Childcare workers across the nation are disproportionately women of color.

This. In other parts of the country, more likely to be Asian or Latina because of the population. The exception I've noticed is if the daycare is run out of a church: in that case, director and staff tend to be similar to the demographics of the church, whatever those may be.

Other caregiving jobs, like home health aides, are also disproportionately filled by women of color. It's difficult work and there is a lot of demand but not a lot of willingness to pay for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You are the one who is new here. African Americans are not we are foundational to this country, have been here since before its existence, have fought in its wars, have played a part in building it up economically and socially. We don’t have to explain why we exist or are in a particular place at a given time. Just because you don't understand, doesn't mean there is a problem. You may prefer to see white faces or faves that look like yours in the centers, possibly reflecting the values in your own country, but you are not in your country.

All that time here hasn’t helped with reading comprehension, clearly. OP didn’t say anything negative about it, or ask anyone to “explain why they exist.” Grow up.

If OP did not see it as a problem, OP would not have brought it up. She kept on looking at childcare center websites for an "alternative" and did not find one, hence her question.

Oh, she is welcome to join us in caregiving professions!

Why would you assume OP had a problem with it? Says more about you, really.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You are the one who is new here. African Americans are not we are foundational to this country, have been here since before its existence, have fought in its wars, have played a part in building it up economically and socially. We don’t have to explain why we exist or are in a particular place at a given time. Just because you don't understand, doesn't mean there is a problem. You may prefer to see white faces or faves that look like yours in the centers, possibly reflecting the values in your own country, but you are not in your country.

All that time here hasn’t helped with reading comprehension, clearly. OP didn’t say anything negative about it, or ask anyone to “explain why they exist.” Grow up.

If OP did not see it as a problem, OP would not have brought it up. She kept on looking at childcare center websites for an "alternative" and did not find one, hence her question.

Oh, she is welcome to join us in caregiving professions!

Why would you assume OP had a problem with it? Says more about you, really.

Her words speak about her, not me; the latter is an impossibility, I am one of 300+ million people in this country that she does not know.

[Anonymous]

We interviewed 6 and found the opposite to be true.

[Anonymous]

We have 50% white and the rest are middle east/indian/asian/black/hispanic. The director is white, so administration office are all white.

[Anonymous]

I live in a Silver Spring neighborhood that is minority-majority. Several of our neighbors started in-home daycares as a way to be with their own children during their childhoods and then continued because the demand was there. They are almost all Hispanic women. My child is now at a center and there are several white teachers, though the greater proportion are still women of color.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You are the one who is new here. African Americans are not we are foundational to this country, have been here since before its existence, have fought in its wars, have played a part in building it up economically and socially. We don’t have to explain why we exist or are in a particular place at a given time. Just because you don't understand, doesn't mean there is a problem. You may prefer to see white faces or faves that look like yours in the centers, possibly reflecting the values in your own country, but you are not in your country.

All that time here hasn’t helped with reading comprehension, clearly. OP didn’t say anything negative about it, or ask anyone to “explain why they exist.” Grow up.

If OP did not see it as a problem, OP would not have brought it up. She kept on looking at childcare center websites for an "alternative" and did not find one, hence her question.

Oh, she is welcome to join us in caregiving professions!

Why would you assume OP had a problem with it? Says more about you, really.

Her words speak about her, not me; the latter is an impossibility, I am one of 300+ million people in this country that she does not know.

You are just looking to be offended. OP simply asked a question.

[Anonymous]

Apart from other reasons, I also think that a lot of Black and Hispanic women like children. I can only speak about Hispanic women, but they come from larger families where children are loved.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You are the one who is new here. African Americans are not we are foundational to this country, have been here since before its existence, have fought in its wars, have played a part in building it up economically and socially. We don’t have to explain why we exist or are in a particular place at a given time. Just because you don't understand, doesn't mean there is a problem. You may prefer to see white faces or faves that look like yours in the centers, possibly reflecting the values in your own country, but you are not in your country.

All that time here hasn’t helped with reading comprehension, clearly. OP didn’t say anything negative about it, or ask anyone to “explain why they exist.” Grow up.

If OP did not see it as a problem, OP would not have brought it up. She kept on looking at childcare center websites for an "alternative" and did not find one, hence her question.

Oh, she is welcome to join us in caregiving professions!

Why would you assume OP had a problem with it? Says more about you, really.

Her words speak about her, not me; the latter is an impossibility, I am one of 300+ million people in this country that she does not know.

You are just looking to be offended. OP simply asked a question.

Not offended, providing information.