Study links appropriated racial oppression to Black parenting socialization

A study published in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships has found that Black parents who experience higher levels of appropriated racial oppression are less likely to transmit culturally protective messages to their adolescent children. Appropriated racial oppression is defined as the process of shaping one’s behavior and self-concept around dominant cultural norms of whiteness.

Research led by Shardé McNeil Smith at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign indicates that these effects are moderated by skin tone, appearing more pronounced among lighter-skinned parents and teenagers. The study, which included 201 pairs of Black parents and their adolescent children, suggests that a parent’s own racialized worldview can impact their ability to instill resilience and racial pride, which are essential for navigating a racialized society.

The research was funded by the National Science Foundation and involved collaborators from Virginia Commonwealth University.