A team led by McGill researchers has studied how parents of color in the U.S. talk to their children about race and inequality.

One key finding: Parents need more support and guidance when teaching kids how to handle discrimination and bias.

“We wanted to highlight the most important messages parents already share, so they can focus on what has the biggest impact,” the researchers say.

Difficult conversations

The team surveyed nearly 600 Black, Latinx, and Asian families with teenage children in late 2020. Using an algorithm to analyze recurring themes in conversations, they identified three core messages parents emphasize:

• Ethnic pride: Teaching children to feel proud of their background and history.
• Valuing diversity: Encouraging respect for different cultures.
• Coping with discrimination: Helping kids recognize and deal with bias.

“For 20 years, research has shown that these conversations boost kids’ mental health and help them build a strong identity,” the team explains.

Improve the support

The study aims to improve existing resources, like videos and online guides, that help parents navigate these discussions. These tools don’t provide exact scripts, since conversations vary by culture and age, but they empower parents to start talking—something that’s proven to help kids handle discrimination.

The researchers also looked at how comfortable parents feel discussing these topics. Many parents find it easy to talk about ethnic pride and traditions but struggle to discuss discrimination. As a result, they may avoid the topic or approach it in ways that don’t fully prepare their kids.

“Parents should start these conversations earlier,” the team concludes. “Kids are encountering racism at younger ages, and without guidance, they won’t know how to respond.”