What do parents want? Relevant content and formats for resources to address issues of racism, antiracism, and xenophobia with youth

Diverse U.S. parents seek to engage in conversations about racism and immigration injustices with their children. To inform the design of a free resource hub and curriculum, we interviewed 62 parents of 3–17 year olds across 6 demographic categories (Asian/Asian American, Black, Latinx, Multiracial, Native American, White). We explored the question: “What content (substance and format) would be useful for parents in addressing issues of race, racism, and immigration with their children?” Analyses yielded multiple cross-cutting themes addressing both the substance and format of resources parents viewed as important for addressing these topics. Four content themes include: (a) Desire for Credible, Nonpartizan Information; (b) Testimonials as Windows and Mirrors; (c) Age Appropriateness; and (d) Systems and Intersectionality. The two main format themes to emerge were: (a) Multiple Modalities and Sources and (b) Interactive and Ready-made. Implications for the development of ethnic-racial and antiracism socialization interventions and other resources are discussed.