A Retrospective Look at Racial Socialization and Identity Development in US-Born and Foreign-Born Black Adults

Racial socialization, inclusive of preparing one's child for bias, has been highlighted as a key feature of positive identity development for Black American children. However, far less is known about the racial socialization practices of African immigrants who may be less aware of American racial constructs, despite their growing presence in the U.S. The present retrospective study compares how racial socialization amongst three different generations of Black adults in the U.S. (African American, Black 1st Generation immigrant, Black 2nd Generation immigrant) influences racial identity development in Black adults. This study is currently ongoing, and I will be presenting preliminary findings from our current sample of 50 participants.