As a parent of two beautiful now grown adults and having extensively worked with youth especially young adults I believe without a shadow of a doubt that meditation should be a must for them. Although, I believe all children can benefit from meditation the focus of this course was created with children of the African diaspora in mind. African Americans and children of color are bombarded with the stresses of living in a white supremacist nation which has physical and psychological ramifications. African Americans children have a disproportionately higher chance of having high blood pressure as oppose to non-black children.

The psychological effects of racism on our children is also a reason for concern. According to researchers, racism can make black children depressed, unhappy and unproductive: A report by The Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine [1], states that "Racism can exert negative effects on the self-concepts, health and well-being, and life trajectories of both non-dominant racial–ethnic (NDRE) youth and youth-serving providers." 

A report in Social Science & Medicine says that young people who experience racism or racist treatment are more likely to struggle with mental health issues such as depression and anxiety as both children and later as teens. The report’s lead researcher, Naomi Priest, of the University of Melbourne in Australia stated that, “The review showed there are strong and consistent relationships between racial discrimination and a range of detrimental health outcomes such as low self-esteem, reduced resilience, increased behavior problems and lower levels of well-being.”

The facts about meditation

A University of California, Los Angeles study found second- and third-graders who practiced “mindful” meditation techniques for 30 minutes twice a week for eight weeks had improved behavior and scored higher on tests requiring memory, attention and focus than the non-meditators.

A study of more than 3,000 children in the San Francisco Unified School District found a dramatic improvement in math test scores and overall academic performance among students who practiced transcendental meditation, a form of mediation that promotes relaxation and “an awakening” of the mind. The study also found a decrease in student suspensions, expulsions and dropout rates.[2]

Sources:

The Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2018.06.003 {accessed May 12th, 2019}

Social Science and Medicine {accessed May 12th, 2019}

Why Black Kids Should Be Required to Meditate [2]

https://brownmamas.com/mindful-meditation-should-be-required-for-black-kids/

Citation

Neblett, E. W., Jr. (2019). Racism and health: Challenges and future directions in behavioral and psychological research. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 25(1), 12-20.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/cdp0000253 {accessed May 12th, 2019}