Collective voices making change: a literature review of black youth activism in the United States

This literature review examines 84 peer-reviewed studies of Black youth activism in the United States, published from 2012 to 2023. Data were extracted from EBSCO, ERIC, and Web of Science using search terms related to “Black”, “youth”, and “activism”. The review identifies the disciplines where studies were published, publication trends, major theories used, types and scopes of activism studied, and the anticipated roles of Black youth in these activism efforts, as well as the intersectionality of the activism. It highlights the dispersed nature of the field, the local focus of most activism studied, and the notable prominence of youth-led initiatives. Many studies described youth or youth with adults as the primary initiators of activism, with Black youth participating both through existing frameworks or by leading efforts themselves. The findings underscore the need for more research specifically on youth-led initiatives to fully understand the scope and impact of Black youth activism.