The Intersection of Adolescent Development and Anti-Black Racism
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The Intersection of Adolescent Development and Anti-Black Racism, the first Council Report from the National Scientific Council on Adolescence (NSCA), summarizes research on how racism and related inequities impact key developmental milestones of adolescence and offers recommendations to support Black youth within key social contexts of the middle and high school years.
Adolescence—beginning around 10 years of age and ending in the early 20s—represents a particularly important period of experience and opportunity during which youth explore the world, develop a sense of agency, and define their identity. Experiences with racism within common contexts and spaces create different experiences for youth along racial lines.
Fortunately, the monumental growth and learning that occur during adolescence make it a time when interventions and anti-racist approaches can make a real difference. Insights from developmental science remind us to focus on the adolescent years as an important time to promote anti-racism in ways that can positively impact young people today, their futures, and the communities and country that they will come to lead.
Related Resources
The Intersection of Adolescent Development and Anti-Black Racism
Summary
Individual Context: Family
Individual Context: Peers and Social Media
Individual Context: Schools
Individual Context: Community
Infographic: Key Social Context
Video: Online Panel Discussion
Report lead Dr. Joanna Williams, co-author Dr. Andrew Fuligni, and youth reviewer Kofi Mason talked with moderator Dr. Jennifer Pfeifer about how we can work to eliminate anti-Black racism and mitigate its effects in order to support the healthy development of Black youth.
