The Relations between Parental Racial Socialization and Racial Beliefs among Black Americans
Past research has shown that the presence of racial socialization messages can affect African Americans' identity, competence levels and relationships. It is imperative that parental figures in African American households address issues of race in order for their children to understand the race-related challenges that they may encounter throughout their lives. The present study examined the relations between parental racial socialization messages and children's racial beliefs and self-esteem. More specifically, it examines to see what types of parental racial socialization messages exist and if a significantly negative correlation exists between the messages and color-blind racial beliefs, and if the messages have a positive correlation with children's self-esteem. The participants consisted of 179 college students and 32 of their parents. The participants' racial socialization messages, racial beliefs, and self-esteem were assessed using an open-ended parental racial socialization questionnaire, Color-blind Racial Attitudes Scale, and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. Results showed that a positive correlation between self-esteem and self-development messages exists and a new type of racial socialization messages labeled counter stereotype was developed. No significant relationship existed between the color-blind racial beliefs of parents and children, or parental racial socialization and the color-blind racial beliefs of the children. Future research should continue exploring these constructs in order for psychologists as well as Black families to be able to understand the effects and differences of parenting practices in the Black community.
School:
Howard University
Department:
Psychology
Research Advisor:
Helen Neville
Department of Research Advisor:
Educational Psychology
Year of Publication:
2005