A new study conducted by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh and Harvard University finds that African American adolescents do better in school if their parents instill in them a strong sense of racial pride. The study, published in the journal Child Development, found that African American parents who talked to their children about race or engaged in activities that made their children aware of their heritage had children who were better able to deal with racial discrimination, harassment, or other forms of mistreatment from teachers and their peers.
Ming-Te Wang, an assistant professor of psychology at the University of Pittsburgh and one of the authors of the article, stated, “Our study provides empirical evidence that the longstanding practice in the African American community of cultivating racial pride and preparing children to face racial bias in society should be considered among appropriate and beneficial practices in parenting Black children.”
The article can be accessed here.
