“Pride Runs Through Our Veins”: A Qualitative Investigation of Black Parents’ Ethnic-Racial Socialization Practices Among Black Youth with Disabilities

Authors

• Nicole A. Telfer, Notre Dame of Maryland UniversityFollow
• Danielle J. Allen, University of North Carolina at Chapel HillFollow
• Noreen Yazejian, University of North Carolina at Chapel HillFollow
• Iheoma U. Iruka, University of North Carolina at Chapel HillFollow

Abstract

While ethnic-racial socialization (ERS) practices are crucial in Black/African American families, little is known about ERS practices in Black families of Black children with disabilities. In the current study, we investigated ERS practices among Black/African American parents’ who are raising children with disabilities and how this may influence children’s outcomes. A total of N = 8 Black/African American parents were invited for semi-structured interviews to explore more deeply their ERS practices among their children with disabilities. Several themes emerged from the data, which highlights ERS practices from a DisCrit lens, as well as the overall experiences of parents and their children with disabilities. These findings have important implications for understanding the intersection of race and disability and novel approaches to ERS practices within Black families of children with disabilities and their influence on youth’s developmental outcomes.

Plain Language Summary

One way Black/African American families teach children about their race and culture, while also talking to them about racism and discrimination is through ethnic-racial socialization (ERS), which is a type of parenting practice. But we don't know much about how this works in families with children with disabilities. In our study, we learned how Black/African American parents raise their children with disabilities. We interviewed 8 parents to find out more about their ERS practices with their kids who have disabilities. We learned three main things about how ERS works and about the experiences of parents and their children. These findings are important for understanding connections between race and disability. The findings also can help us know how to support ERS practices in Black families with children with disabilities. Better support of ERS practices could promote children's development.

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Recommended Citation

Telfer, Nicole A.; Allen, Danielle J.; Yazejian, Noreen; and Iruka, Iheoma U. (2026) "“Pride Runs Through Our Veins”: A Qualitative Investigation of Black Parents’ Ethnic-Racial Socialization Practices Among Black Youth with Disabilities," Developmental Disabilities Network Journal: Vol. 5: Iss. 2, Article 25.
DOI: 10.59620/2694-1104.1144
Available at: https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/ddnj/vol5/iss2/25