Examining Black Emerging Adults’ Decision Points for Engaging Parents Versus Peers as Racial Socialization Sources

While emerging adulthood is a period of significant transitions and adjustments, for Black emerging adults, racial injustices are particular challenges that necessitate racial socialization from parents and peers to navigate these experiences. However, it is unclear what factors may influence their engagement with these different sources, which may subsequently impact their ability to cope with the racial injustices they experience. The current study addressed this gap in the existing literature by examining reasons why Black emerging adults go to parents and peers as different sources of racial socialization. Participants included 35 college-attending emerging adults (ages 18–26 years) attending a predominately white institution (PWI) in the southeastern region of the U.S. Approximately 60% of participants were female, and the remainder were male. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to analyze participants’ responses. Three themes were developed from the data, including: (1) Uncensored venting with peers, (2) Parental wisdom and guidance from experience, and (3) Managing parents’ fears and emotions (through strategic omission). Findings highlight the ways that Black emerging adults actively and strategically engage in the racial socialization process.