An Examination of Black Mothers' Racial Discrimination Experiences, Racial Ideology Beliefs, and their Racial Socialization Practices

The current study investigated the relationship between racial discrimination experiences, racial ideology beliefs, and racial socialization practices among 370 Black mothers (18-59 years). Guided by Garcia-Coll’s and colleagues’ (1996) Integrative Model for the Study of Developmental Competencies in Minority Children and Rowley’s and colleagues’ (2012) model on racial identity and parenting among African Americans, we sought to specifically examine whether racial ideology beliefs moderated the association between racial discrimination experiences and preparation for bias and cultural pride racial socialization. Using hierarchical linear regression analyses, we found that racial discrimination and racial ideology beliefs were significantly associated with Black mothers’ racial socialization practices. More specifically, mothers who reported more experiences of racial discrimination experiences and higher endorsement of nationalist ideology provided more preparation for bias and cultural pride socialization messages to their children. Higher endorsement of humanist ideology was negatively associated with cultural pride socialization. These findings have implications for clinicians and interventions that work with Black mothers and families. The results suggest that it may be important for clinicians and interventions to help mothers process their racial discrimination experiences and their race-related beliefs since they have important influences for their racial socialization.