Introduction to the Supplemental Issue: Advancing developmental science on the impact of racism in the early years

Abstract

The goal of this supplement is to expand the extant literature about racism's toxic effects on the nation's youngest children– infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. The supplement contains articles that (a) focus on how racism is manifested in early care and education systems, policies, and programs, (b) demonstrate how racism influences the economic and community contexts children live in, and (c) highlight the cultural assets racially and ethnically marginalized families and communities use to cope with—and resist—racism. In this introduction, we summarize the key findings from the articles, discuss their contributions, and identify additional opportunities for future studies to expand on. Recommendations are provided about how knowledge from this battery of work can be translated into policy, practice, and future research efforts to advance racial equity in the early years and to transform those oppressive systems thwarting racially and ethnically marginalized children's optimal development and their ability to thrive.