Black Mother's Perceptions About Their Interactions With Public Safety

• In Event: Poster Session 1

Abstract

Black mothers are often tasked with having “the talk” with their children, particularly those with sons. This study was part of a larger qualitative study on Black mothers’ perceptions of parenting, health, and public safety in communities. This study focused on Black mothers’ perception of public safety by examining how they negotiated perceived and actual racism in their daily lived experiences as Black mothers living in the racial context of American society. Critical race feminism, Black feminist thought, and racial battle fatigue were the theoretical frameworks for this study. In-depth interviewing through the lenses of critical race methodology and Black epistemology was used with 7 Black mothers in a mid-sized midwestern town. The mothers’ narratives were used to analyze themes related to the following research questions: 1)What are Black Mothers’ perceptions of their children’s experiences with educational agencies, health care providers, and public safety? 2) What are Black Mothers’ perceptions of their roles and responsibilities related to their children’s experiences with educational agencies, health care providers, and public safety? and 3) What racial microaggressions do Black mothers experience during their everyday parenting practices related to their children’s education, health & public safety?

Authors

• Tierra Tivis, University of Maryland Eastern Shore

• Charlene Harris, University of Maryland Eastern Shore