The Other Talk: Race and Keeping Kids Safe

Using a 2025 national study of 500 White and 500 Black respondents, we examine Americans’ likelihood of having two talks with teenage family members: “The Talk” about police officers and “The Other Talk” about the dangers of crime and criminals. Consistent with previous research, the data revealed a large racial divide in “The Talk.” Black respondents were far more likely than White respondents to say they would teach youths how to avoid police violence. By contrast, the data revealed a smaller racial divide in “The Other Talk.” Although Black respondents were more likely than White respondents to have this talk with teenage family members, “The Other Talk” was the norm in both racial groups, making it virtually universal. A key multivariate finding was that fear of the police and experiences with officers shaped the likelihood of “The Talk” for both Black and White respondents.