In her second book, Dr. Stacey Patton takes on the issue of corporal punishment and how it harms the futures of African-American children.
Patton, an assistant professor of multimedia journalism at Morgan State University, writes about the detriments of spanking and other physical punishment in disciplining children. The title, Spare the Kids: Why Whupping Children Won’t Save Black America, takes on the idea that physical punishment can severely impede a child’s learning.
The book launch party was held last week in a decidedly child-friendly environment, Harlem Children’s Zone, where kids played and at times loudly enjoyed themselves as Patton read from the book and answered questions. The event was live-streamed on Facebook.
“[Harlem Children’s Zone] educates parents about the basic science behind child development and brain development; particularly how corporal punishment can stymie a child’s healthy brain development in terms of cognition, executive functioning, emotional regulation and also harm emotional bonds between parents and children,” said Patton. “They see the link between early child development and outcomes later on in life.
“I’ve never been to a book launch party where children were central, so I purposely invited children to attend,” she added. “It was pitch perfect because when we have conversations about corporal punishment in this country, it’s usually adults talking.”
During the Q&A portion, a 4-year-old stepped up to the microphone to ask the first question.
Patton’s first book, That Mean Old Yesterday, was a memoir about her experiences as an adoptee, child abuse survivor and former foster youth. In her work as an award-winning author, journalist and child advocate, she has focused on the detriments of spanking, particularly when it comes to African-American children. She has tried to build a movement to change the culture of Black family violence, often facing backlash from both Black and White people.
