Report Unveils Puberty’s Role in Intensifying Racial Bias Against Black Children

By Stacy M. Brown | NNPA (NNPA) – A new report from Psychology Today has revealed how puberty exacerbates racial bias against Black children, with the study’s author highlighting the need for immediate educational and societal reforms. Dr. Rona Carter, an associate professor at the University of Michigan and the report’s author, explained that Black children are often perceived as older and less innocent than their white peers, leading to increased stress, anxiety, and identity struggles. “The psychological toll of being perceived as older can be profound for Black children,” Carter wrote for Psychology Today, the world’s largest mental health and behavioral science destination online, which includes free access to hundreds of thousands of professionals. “Educational reforms are necessary to create an environment where Black children can thrive, including curricula that reflect the diverse histories and experiences of Black communities,” Carter wrote. The issue of adultification is deeply rooted in societal biases and stereotypes, manifesting in harsher disciplinary actions in schools and more severe judgments in the criminal justice system. A 2022 study by researchers Gadson and Lewis examined the experiences of Black adolescent girls, revealing that when these girls counter stereotypical images, they often face gendered racial microaggressions. They...