Fighting racism

Background: Racism has a profound impact on children well-being. In fact, researchers have found links between experiencing racial discrimination and mental health concerns, including depression, anxiety and conduct problems. We therefore set out to identify effective interventions for reducing racism in children.Methods: We used systematic review methods to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating interventions to reduce racism. After applying our rigorous inclusion criteria, we accepted five RCTs evaluating 11 interventions.Results: Two interventions showed promising outcomes. Books that recounted close friendships between non-refugee and refugee children resulted in children having more positive attitudes towards refugees.  As well, history lessons focused on Black American's contributions to society and their experiences of racism resulted in children having more positive attitudes towards Black people and increased their valuing of racial fairness. Conclusions: Two brief interventions had a positive impact on children's attitudes towards people of colour. They offer a helpful starting point for ongoing efforts to create more equitable experiences for all children.