Black parents, particularly those with lighter-skinned tones, who experience higher levels of appropriated racial oppression — the internalization of white supremacist ideologies — are less likely to provide positive, culturally protective messages that affirm racial pride and self-worth to their children. This was the finding of a new study led by Shardé McNeil Smith, associate professor of human development and family studies and of African American studies at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
“We know that Black parents engage in parenting practices that help their children if and when they encounter racial discrimination, but we find that parents’ own racialized worldview can impact their ability to transmit positive messages that are empirically found to promote well-being,” said Dr. Smith. “Interestingly, our research found that this is particularly apparent for parents and youth with lighter skin tones.”
For their study, Dr. Smith and her co-authors from the University of Illinois and Virginia Commonwealth University examined data regarding 201 pairs of Black parents and their children. Among the sample of parents, 75 percent were mothers, 15 percent were fathers, and 10 percent were other primary caregivers, such as grandparents or aunts. The adults had an average age of 43, and the majority of adults were college-educated. The average age of the participating adolescents was just under 15.
The participating parents and primary caregivers completed a survey measuring their emotional responses to being a member of their race, negative perceptions about their racial group, perceived beauty standards associated with skin tones, thoughts about discrimination, childhood history with racial/ethnic socialization experiences, and racism-related levels of stress. Adolescents were asked about their parents’ or caregivers’ racial or ethnic socialization messages and behaviors during the prior year, as well as their negative messaging regarding the Black community. Both parents and adolescents were also surveyed regarding their perceptions of their own and others’ skin tones.
The research team found that parents with higher levels of appropriated racial oppression were less likely to cultivate self-worth and racial pride in their children, less likely to convey messages about racial equality and inequalities, and more likely to focus on negative messages. Notably, the authors found skin tone, but not gender, moderated these associations; the negative effects of appropriated racial oppression were stronger among lighter-skinned participants.
“These disruptions in racial-ethnic socialization may have long-term effects on youths’ racial identity development and psychological well-being, particularly in contexts where racial pride, resilience and preparation for bias become critical for coping with discrimination,” said Dr. Smith. “The moderating role of lighter skin tones on racial socialization practices also underscores the importance of considering intragroup diversity within Black families. Having lighter skin — which is often associated with proximity to whiteness — may influence parents’ perceptions of racial threats and the necessity of preparing their children for racialized experiences.”
She added, “Interventions that help parents process and resist appropriated racial oppression may be key to fostering resilience and racial pride in the next generation. At the same time, it is imperative that efforts extend beyond individual parents and families to address the structural and institutional conditions that perpetuate the racial oppression that parents may ultimately internalize.”
Dr. Smith has been a faculty member with the University of Illinois since 2014. Through her research, she aims to find new ways to contribute to the reduction of mental health disparities among African Americans. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and sociology from North Carolina State University, a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy from what is now Purdue University Northwest, and a Ph.D. in family relations from Florida State University.
