Attending to the Adversity of Racism Against Young Black Children

Abstract

The first 1,000 days is one of the most consequential times for children’s development. As a hugely ignored adversity embedded in all aspects of black children’s lives before birth and throughout their life course, racism in all forms deserves more attention in the developmental science literature. Racism—including structural, institutional, interpersonal, intrapersonal, and cultural—negatively impacts the health, learning, and well-being of black children, their families, and their communities. Using the Integrative Model for the Study of Developmental Competencies for Minority Children and Critical Race Theory frameworks, this article elucidates how racial disparities in every opportunity and outcome connected to black children and their ecosystem are due to white supremacy and anti-black racism. We call for urgent action focused on preservation, protection, and promotion to address white supremacy and combat anti-black racism through racial equity and culturally grounded science and policymaking.

Black motherhood and the dual pandemics: The protective role of stable income on mental wellbeing

“…These stressors may be particularly pronounced among Black mothers of young children (ages 5 and under). Black mothers of young children had the multi‐layered responsibilities of caregiving, given the lower rates of participation in early care and education (Barnett & Jung, 2020; Iruka et al., 2021), coupled with the responsibility to buffer their young children's experiences of racism and pandemic‐related stressors, given young children's heightened vulnerability to the impacts of stressful events (Bartlett et al., 2020; Boyraz & Legros, 2020; Iruka, Durden et al., 2021; Iruka et al., 2022). As such, the purpose of this paper is to explore the association between COVID‐19 related financial difficulties, racial discrimination, and the protective role of stable income on mental wellbeing (i.e., anxiety, depression, loneliness, and stress) among Black mothers with young children.…”

Effects of Racism on Child Development: Advancing Antiracist Developmental Science

“…Scholars have noted the tax exerted by racism on the development and well-being of Black children and other children of color, which can be seen in their economic, birth, and educational vulnerabilities (Iruka et al 2021b). While one estimate has assessed racism as costing the US economy up to $16 trillion over the past 20 years, primarily due to the wealth gap, homeownership, access to higher education, and lending practices (Peterson & Mann 2020), there is also a cost being exacted on children's healthy development and their opportunity to learn and lead healthy lives (Trent et al 2019).…”

“…Access to quality early-childhood and intervention programs and services supports school readiness skills and academic attainment over time, but access to these opportunities is scarce for REM families (Barnett et al 2013, Iruka et al 2021b). The lack of financial resources and geographic proximity to early-learning opportunities-cultivated by systemic and structural racism-places REM children and families at greater risk of experiencing limited access to affordable, quality, and accessible early-learning opportunities and services (Meek et al 2020).…”

Child community violence exposure in an at-risk sample: Developmental trajectories, caregiving risks, and the role of child temperament.

“…Of note is that the majority of the present sample was African–American mothers and children. African–Americans are a markedly disadvantaged subgroup in terms of socioeconomic status and both physical and mental health in the US population due to racism (e.g., structural, institutional, interpersonal, and cultural such as anti-Black racism; e.g., Bailey et al, 2017; Iruka et al, 2021). There are also racial and ethnic disparities that Black and Hispanic Youth are more likely than their White counterparts to experience community violence (e.g., Lobo Antunes & Ahlin, 2015).…”