They raised me to resist: Examining the sociopolitical pathways between parental racial socialization and Black youth's racial justice action

Abstract

In a sample of 500 self‐identified Black adolescents from across the United States, this study investigated the pathways between youth's experiences of parental racial socialization (RS) and their sociopolitical development. Findings from structural equation modelling reveal that RS messages and actions were positively associated with youth's awareness of racial inequality (critical reflection) and confidence and motivation in addressing racism (critical agency). Further, there were direct and indirect associations between RS and multiple forms of racial justice actions (interpersonal, political/communal, and online). Racial barriers messages were directly positively associated with political/communal and indirectly positively associated with interpersonal and online action, while cultural socialization actions were directly positively associated with all three forms of action. These findings support theoretical contentions that RS messages and actions may be powerful tools for cultivating Black youth's understanding and capacity to transform racially unjust systems. Further, parents' behaviours to racially socialize their children may be more impactful than their verbal messages in cultivating multiple forms of racial justice action. Finally, recommendations for future research and practice related to Black youth's consciousness and activism are presented. Please refer to the Supplementary Material section to find this article's Community and Social Impact Statement.

Differences and similarities between ethnic–racial identity and critical consciousness links among diverse parents of color.

“…Relative to this boom in work on youth, however, there has been relative neglect to predictors of parents’ critical consciousness. Given the key role parents play in the development of critical consciousness among youth via racial (Anyiwo et al, 2018, 2023) and other forms of socialization (Heberle et al, 2020), an interest in creating a more conscious generation of youth necessitates an understanding of factors influencing parents’ own critical consciousness. Building on theoretical (Anyiwo et al, 2018; Mathews et al, 2020) and empirical work (Briggs et al, 2023; Kiang et al, 2021) linking ERI to critical consciousness in youth of color, we investigated the degree to which three key aspects of ERI (exploration, centrality, and public regard) influenced critical reflection, motivation, and action among Black, Latinx, and Asian American parents of color.…”

Black adolescents' experiences with racial socialization, racial identity, and critical reflection of need for school change of racial inequity

“…For instance, in a study that focused on Black youths' perceptions of parental RS and different dimensions of critical consciousness (e.g., antiracism actions, online action), racial barrier messages were directly and positively associated with political/communal antiracism actions and indirectly associated with interpersonal and online action (Anyiwo et al, 2022). Cultural pride socialization was directly and positively associated with all forms of antiracism action (e.g., interpersonal and communal/political action) and online action (Anyiwo et al, 2022). In another study of parental RS among Black youth and parents (Bañales et al, 2021), youth and parent reports of racial barrier socialization were positively associated with critical reflection.…”

“…Empirical evidence supporting theoretical links between parental RS and critical consciousness development among Black youth is emerging (Bañales et al, 2020, 2021). For instance, in a study that focused on Black youths' perceptions of parental RS and different dimensions of critical consciousness (e.g., antiracism actions, online action), racial barrier messages were directly and positively associated with political/communal antiracism actions and indirectly associated with interpersonal and online action (Anyiwo et al, 2022). Cultural pride socialization was directly and positively associated with all forms of antiracism action (e.g., interpersonal and communal/political action) and online action (Anyiwo et al, 2022).…”

When resilience is not enough: Imagining novel approaches to supporting Black youth navigating racism

“…The experience of being subjected to racial discrimination through social media interactions or witnessing others’ experiences with racism and violence is unique for Black youth of today and is a growing population-level public health concern (Cooper & Fullilove, 2016; Tynes et al, 2019). In addition to experiencing vicarious exposure to racism online, some Black youth are on the frontlines fighting against racism through protests, education, and activism (Anyiwo et al, 2023), taking on a considerable amount of the resistance against racism and oppression, infringing on their ability to devote time and energy to other developmentally relevant activities. A number of positive or protective processes have been documented by engaging in activism (e.g., development of problem-solving coping mechanisms; Brashers et al, 2002), yet a growing body of evidence is unearthing the toll that this activism takes on the psychological and physical wellness of young people (Hope et al, 2018).…”