Date of Conferral

11-21-2025

Date of Award

November 2025

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Psychology

Advisor

Susan Verdinelli

Abstract

Despite progress in addressing racism in the United States, its effects remain deeply entrenched, particularly for Black families. Research on Black parenting shows that parents adapt their strategies to protect children from criminalization, discussing violence, providing safety within the home, and limiting exposure to unsafe environments while also managing their own stress. Yet limited attention has been given to how Black mothers prepare their sons for race-related risks within the modern sociopolitical climate shaped by the #BlackLivesMatter movement. The purpose of this basic qualitative research study was to explore how Black mothers prepare their Black sons for race-related risks. Carter’s race-based traumatic stress and Harrell’s racism-related stress conceptualizations constitute the conceptual framework for this study. Data for this study were collected through semistructured interviews with ten mothers recruited through community organizations and social media. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data of this study. The findings revealed that Black mothers transform fear into purposeful action by teaching resilience, fostering racial pride, maintaining open communication, and embedding historical and cultural awareness into everyday parenting. Through these efforts, they not only prepare their sons to survive systemic racism but also nurture self-worth, dignity, and empowerment, often relying on collective community networks to reinforce safety, belonging, and hope. The findings can inform mental health practitioners and program developers seeking to design culturally relevant support systems that promote resilience among Black families, thereby contributing to positive social change through greater understanding, empathy, and equity within society.

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