Incarcerated Parents and Their Successful Children: Selected Stories of Family Resilience & Redefining Identity

• In Event: Raising Hope, Reclaiming Futures: Incarcerated Parents, Their Children, and The Path Forward

Abstract

Empirical research often shows that the label of parental incarceration on Children of Incarcerated Parents (COIPs) places a large emphasis on negative outcomes such as aggression, behavioral difficulties, antisocial behaviors, and delinquency. These negative perceptions fail to depict the stories of family resilience that shed light on parents who mentor, motivate, inspire, and guide children toward successful endeavors during and beyond incarceration. This presentation will explore how Black COIPs refine their identity when society imposes negative stereotypes on them and their parents. Editors of Social Revolution: Black Children of Incarcerated Parents Speak Truth to Power (2023) will draw on its authors and their experiences to show how they fight to redefine who they are despite parental incarceration. Also highlighted is their incarcerated parents' role in aiding their children’s successes, increased self-esteem, and cultural pride. Black COIPs have to compete not only with racial and gender stereotypes but also with the negative stigmatization of parental incarceration. The intersection of their identities and outside prejudices is an uphill battle; however, the presentation will show how the motivation from incarcerated parents and the resiliency of Black COIPs invite them to refine their future.

Authors

• Britany Gatewood, Bowie State University

• Bahiyyah MiAllah Muhammad, Howard University

• Sydni Turner, Bowie State University