New Gallup Poll Shows Lower-Income Black Parents Talk to Kids About Race Challenges More Than Others
It's common for Black families to have discussions about race, but experts explain why it's more frequent among a specific group.
Fact checked by Sarah ScottFact checked by Sarah ScottA Gallup poll was recently published, highlighting how lower-income Black families with young children are more likely to discuss the challenges of race with their kids than other families. According to the poll, 59% of participants say they talk with their children about the challenges of race and the things they may face either often (30%) or sometimes (29%). Fewer participants (48%) say they speak with their kids about the advantages they may have because of their race. Twenty-five percent of Black parents who participated in the poll say they often converse about advantages, and 23% say sometimes.Data like this can reveal what Black people know from their lived experiences. However, it's important for Black parents to continue educating themselves and thus preparing their children for the realities of living in America.
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A History of Oppression Creates Generational TraumaIn the United States, slavery lasted 246 years—that's 13 generations. Then there were another 100 years of Jim Crow laws, violence, and murder. There is no official number, but it's estimated that hundreds of thousands of African Americans were murdered during this period in American history.Generational trauma related to an oppressive history takes generations of healing to overcome, and remnants of systematic inequality still exist. The influence of oppression lingers.Nicole Monteiro, PhD, a licensed Black child psychologist and CEO of The Center for Healing and Development, PLLC, notes Black families have historically been acutely aware of the impact of race and racism. "From the 19th century onward, Black parents have had to prepare their sons and daughters on how to navigate racial tensions," she says. "These conversations, often referred to as 'the talk,' are essential for ensuring safety in a society that could be hostile to their presence."Steven Kniffley, PsyD, Senior Associate Dean and Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, agrees, adding factors, such as low income and parents' juxtaposition to unique environmental stressors that intersect with race (e.g., housing discrimination, health, education disparities, law, and order policing policies), are more likely to mean children may encounter more overt forms of racism."To address these more overt forms of racial microaggressions, Black children will need to employ racial microaggressions skills at a greater frequency and earlier ages compared to other racial and income groups," he says.The Gallup poll results highlight the generational trauma that's passed down from one generation to the next based on Black parents' experiences with systematic inequality. They're trying to prepare their children for the real world.The data shows 70% of Black parents who experience regular discrimination report talking to their kids about the challenges of race and what they may encounter. And half of Black parents (51%) who do not experience frequent oppression still have these talks with their children.It especially makes sense why lower-income families would discuss race, as they are likely to have oppression-related experiences regularly. The Gallup poll reveals this is especially true if a Black family lives in a large city vs. the suburbs."The Gallup data is no surprise that Black families are more likely to discuss race with their children," Dr. Monteiro says. "This trend is especially prominent among Black families of lower socioeconomic status, where economic hardships intersect with racial discrimination. These families often feel even more need to prepare their children for the dual challenges they may face as Black people in America."Self-Awareness Can be Life-SavingHaving discussions about race and the systematic inequality Black children will likely experience can be life-saving. Those discussions can create situational awareness in young Black people, especially when traversing spaces where they aren't necessarily known and dealing with authority figures. ""If we don't tell them the story, who will?"Christina Garrett, founder of the Momathon Movement
"As a mother of four Black sons, I often grieve over the Trayvon Martins, Ahmaud Arberys, and [others] in our current society, and how simply existing was enough to have them viewed as 'less than,'" comments Christina Garrett, a Black family expert, parent, and founder of the Momathon Movement. "For this reason, I believe the conversations prepare our children to operate with wisdom as they navigate the world. Celebrating and being aware of their history prepares them to walk in greatness. If we don't tell them the story, who will?"Garrett goes on to describe the regular discussions she and her husband have with their five children about how race impacts the world around them."While we live in a diverse community and are considered upper middle class, I believe it is vital to both educate our children on the history of Black people in America as well as remind them that everyone does not have a similar life experience as they do," she says.Helping Black children practice self-awareness not only keeps them safe, but also contributes to the formation of their identity, showing them that others' views don't have to define them."Research shows that when parents engage in open discussions about race, it helps boost their children's self-esteem, equips them with healthier coping strategies, and prevents them from internalizing racial adversity," Dr. Monteiro confirms. "Instead of seeing racism as a personal failure, these children learn to understand it as a social or systemic issue. This important distinction leads to more resilience."Handling MicroaggressionsAccording to Dr. Kniffley, Black children experience on average six racial microaggressions a day, with most having their first racist interpersonal encounter between ages 4-5. He says as Black children are more vulnerable to the experiences of anxiety, depression, and racial trauma as a result, Black parents have the unique task of equipping their children with the skills and resources needed to navigate racial microaggressions."In general, these skills fall under the umbrella of racial socialization and comprise three main areas: racial identity development, advocacy, and self-reflection/racial trauma processing," says Dr. Kniffley. He also suggests parents use the racial legacy skill set (compared to racial literacy), which according to Dr. Howard C. Stevenson "refers to the use of aspirational sayings by Black parents to equip their children with the skills needed to cope with racial microaggressions. [It also teaches] Black children how to identify an event as racist, utilize their coping skills, and evaluate the effectiveness of their approach."Bottom line: While it's important to raise awareness through ongoing discussion with kids, it's crucial for Black kids to know they aren't limited by the color of their skin nor are they defined by their past. For more Parents news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Parents.
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