About - Stacey Patton

“Prejudice against children is the bedrock of oppression. We will never achieve justice and liberation until we honor children’s voices, perspectives, bodily autonomy, and rights.”

Dr. Stacey Patton is child centric. Her mission embodies resilience, advocacy, and intellectual prowess. As an adoptee, child abuse survivor, and former foster youth, her journey fuels a passionate commitment to championing the rights of marginalized children and dismantling systemic injustices that shape their lives.

A celebrated author, journalist, college professor, and child advocate, Dr. Patton’s impactful reporting has graced the pages of The New York Times, Washington Post, Al Jazeera, BBC News, The Chronicle of Higher Education, The Root.com, TheGrio, NewsOne, Black Enterprise and other outlets, shedding light on pressing issues of child welfare, race relations, culture, politics, and education. Her insightful commentary has sparked national dialogue and earned her accolades from the William Randolph Hearst Foundation, National Association of Black Journalists, Education Writers Association, and other organizations.

A dynamic force on both television screens, the radio airwaves, and podiums, Dr. Patton captivates audiences with her impassioned keynotes and professional trainings. She fearlessly confronts the use of physical punishment against children in homes and schools, racial disparities in child welfare, the over-prescription of psychotropic medications to children of color in foster care, and the school-to-prison pipeline. Her efforts as an intermediary between social services and law enforcement agencies have garnered widespread recognition. For her efforts, in 2016 she received the cultural competency award for child abuse prevention from the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children. And, in 2023, she received the Distinguished Contribution to Child Advocacy Award from the American Psychological Association.

Dr. Patton’s literary contributions, from her memoir “That Mean Old Yesterday” to “Spare the Kids: Why Whupping Children Won’t Save Black America,” illuminate the complexities of race, trauma, resilience in American society. In her forthcoming book “Strung Up,” Dr. Patton continues to engage with difficult historical truths, shedding light on the overlooked stories of Black children and teenagers victimized by lynching in America. By confronting these painful realities head-on, she invites readers to reckon with the legacies of childism and racial violence and their enduring impact on our society.

Her multifaceted commitment to children’s advocacy extends beyond her journalism and academic pursuits. As a children’s book author, she crafts narratives that resonate with young readers, empowering them to navigate complex themes of identity, resilience, friendship, and respect for animals and nature.

Her literary contributions serve as vital tools in her mission to amplify the voices of marginalized youth and foster empathy and understanding among readers of all ages. Through her child centric work, Dr. Patton cultivates spaces for reflection and dialogue, nurturing a generation of compassionate and informed individuals.

Join Dr. Stacey Patton on her journey as a tireless advocate, educator, and storyteller, as she continues to use her platform to uplift and empower the voices of the next generation.