Youth advancing anti-racism in the 2020s

Abstract

In this review, we highlight articles on youth anti-racist action undertaken alongside the COVID-19 pandemic. Three contexts for youth anti-racism development are reviewed: educational settings, out-of-school programs, and youth-led participatory action research. The burden and costs of these undertakings are substantial for youth (particularly racially and ethnically marginalized youth), and pandemic-related stressors have exacerbated the costs and toll of this work. Accordingly, the current review centers opportunities to better scaffold and support youth-led anti-racist action with a focus on systemic and programmatic supports including engaging youth in research as a vehicle for racial justice. We conclude with a call to action for adult activists, scholars, and allies committed to partnering with youth to envision and create a more equitable and just future as we collectively emerge from a global pandemic.