Peer-reviewed article

Racism under the skin: Connecting the dots between the threats of structural inequities and the biological embedding of adversity

Iheoma U. Iruka, Jack P. Shonkoff, Stephanie M. Curenton · 1 Jan 2024

Abstract

This supplement issue on racism in the early years is coming out at a critical inflection point in the history of early childhood policies and programs, and the knowledge base on which they sit. From a research perspective, there is a compelling need to revisit previous studies and critique emerging work through a racial equity lens to identify potential bias in research designs, data analyses, and reported findings. Equally important is the need for actionable knowledge that reflects the lived experiences of a broad diversity of racially and ethnically marginalized families with young children, many of whom bear enormous hardships imposed by structural inequities.