Where we live, learn and play: Environmental racism and early childhood development in review

Abstract

What are the effects of environmental racism on early childhood development? This paper argues that this is a largely unanswered question that reflects more than a research gap, but a research vacuum. This paper reviews the available literature on the intersection of environmental racism and early childhood from a sociological perspective. I rely on Iruka et al.’s (2022) Racism + Resilience + Resistance Integrative Study of Childhood Ecosystem (R3ISE) framework and the framework of critical environmental justice (Pellow, 2016; 2018) to summarize what is known about how environmental racism contributes to disparities in health, learning, and well-being through the early years of childhood development, as well as to point out gaps in our knowledge. Scholars have identified strong indicators that many converging environmental hazards affect young children, and that exposure to these hazards is strongly associated with race and racism. An emerging body of literature also links environmental racism to global climate change and global ecological degradation. This paper will provide a theoretical overview of environmental racism as it pertains to young children and consider in relation to early childhood and race: 1) disproportionate exposure to environmental pollutants and their effects; and 2) vulnerability to effects of climate change. It concludes with a discussion of implications, and suggestions for paths forward and future research.