50 years after Kerner, racial and ethnic discrimination still holds children back

Fifty years after the release of the Kerner Commission’s report, Child Trends’ President Carol Emig reflects on how much has changed and how much remains to be done to realize the Commission’s call for “common opportunity for all.” Emig notes that while the lives of many children today are better than the lives of children 50 years ago, serious racial and ethnic inequities persist and work remains to address discrimination that often has deep and overlooked historical roots. Such work will take place in a demographic, economic, and policy landscape far different than the America of 50 years ago.

Contributing to a volume marking Kerner’s 50th anniversary, Emig reviews the major changes in the child and youth field since 1968 and suggests research-based health, early childhood, and education recommendations to move us closer to common opportunity.

Temple University Press has given Child Trends permission to reproduce the chapter below. To download the book, click here.

Emig, C. (2018). “Kerner and Kids: Work Remains.” In Healing Our Divided Society: Investing in America Fifty Years after the Kerner Report (eds. Harris, F. & Curtis, A.). Philadelphia, PA: Temple University Press.