A Qualitative Analysis of Black Mother Preparation for Bias Messages Following Incidents of Racism-Related Violence

• Published in: Journal of family psychology Vol. 38; no. 1; pp. 38 - 47
• Main Authors: Bernard, Donte L., Saleem, Farzana T., Moreland, Angela D., Shacklewood, Curtisha, Danielson, Carla Kmett
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Psychological Association 01-02-2024
• Subjects: Adult; Adversity; Awareness; Bias; Black or African American; Black People; Caregivers; Children; Domestic Violence; Female; Human; Humans; Messages; Mothers; Mothers - psychology; Psychosocial factors; Qualitative research; Race; Racial bias; Racial socialization; Racism; Racism - psychology; Socialization; Violence; Worry; Youth; racism; Black mothers; qualitative inquiry; racial socialization; Black families
• ISSN: 0893-3200; 1939-1293; 1939-1293
• DOI: 10.1037/fam0001162

Preparation for bias messages (PFB), represent a specific form of racial socialization, used to inform youth about racism and how to cope with racism-related adversity. Although research commonly examines how frequently PFB are delivered to children, few studies have qualitatively explored the heterogeneity in the content of such messages, making it difficult to ascertain how caregivers prepare and coach their children to negotiate incidents of racism-related violence. To address this gap in the literature, the present study qualitatively examined the content of PFB given to Black children from their mothers following high-profile incidents of anti-Black violence. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 12 mothers (Mage = 41.91) of Black children to explore how parental concerns regarding their children's safety inform the content of their PFB. Using thematic analysis, two primary themes emerged. The first theme related to psychosocial factors among caregivers that precipitated PFB (i.e., awareness of anti-Black violence, worry about the child being a victim). The second theme pertained to the different types of PFB that caregivers provided to their children (i.e., awareness of racial biases, strategies to navigate discriminatory encounters). Overall findings support and extend extant racial socialization research and have important implications for how Black youth come to understand the significance of race and racism in the aftermath of racism-related violence.