Navigating Racial Stress: How Black Mothers’ and Fathers’ Trauma Shapes Confidence in Talking About Racism

This study examined Black parents’ reports of daily racism experiences on racial socialization competency (i.e., confidence in discussing race and racism) among Black mothers (N = 385 , M age = 36.99, 55% mothers) and fathers (N = 296, M age = 37.66). The moderating role of racial trauma was also investigated. The results indicated that Black mothers who faced daily racism exhibited increased confidence in discussing race and racism with their children, while Black fathers who encountered daily racism and racial trauma also felt more confident. However, Black fathers who experienced low levels of both racism and racial trauma felt less confident. As the frequency of daily racist encounters increased, Black fathers experienced an increase in confidence in addressing racial topics with their children. These findings underscore the influence of racism and racial trauma on Black mothers and Black fathers’ attitudes towards discussing racism.