Sociocultural Influences on the Sociopolitical Development of African American Youth

Sociopolitical development (SPD) is the process by which individuals become aware of social inequality, recognize the status of their social identities, and engage in activism. For racially marginalized youth, race is an important aspect of their SPD. Yet few studies have considered the connections...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Child development perspectives 2018-09, Vol.12 (3), p.165-170
Main Authors: Anyiwo, Nkemka, Bañales, Josefina, Rowley, Stephanie J., Watkins, Daphne C., Richards‐Schuster, Katie
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Activism
Adolescent development
African Americans
Black youth
Case studies
Identity formation
Inequality
Marginality
Race
Racial discrimination
Racial identity
Racial socialization
Social identity
Social inequality
social justice
Social research
Sociocultural factors
Youth
Youth movements
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Summary:Sociopolitical development (SPD) is the process by which individuals become aware of social inequality, recognize the status of their social identities, and engage in activism. For racially marginalized youth, race is an important aspect of their SPD. Yet few studies have considered the connections between racial factors and youth's SPD. In this article, we introduce an integrative model situating racial sociocultural processes (i.e., racial identity, racial socialization, and experiences of racial discrimination) within current SPD theory. In particular, we look at African American youth as a case study to discuss how sociocultural factors can contribute to youth's awareness of structures of social inequality (i.e., critical social analysis) and engagement in action against social inequality (i.e., sociopolitical action). We conclude with suggestions for research.
ISSN:1750-8592
1750-8606
DOI:10.1111/cdep.12276