The impact of police racial bias and brutality towards unarmed African Americans on African American families with minor children

In the United States, the recent exposure of the increased rate of police racial bias and brutality towards unarmed African Americans is of specific concern to all who values and expects “justice and equality for all.” This dissertation presents an overview of the historical complexity of racism and police racial bias and brutality towards unarmed African Americans and the impact on African American families with minor children. The theoretical framework that was utilized for this qualitative study is critical race theory (CRT). CRT was used to analyze if the 18 interviewed African American familial systems have been impacted by police racial bias and brutality. Particular attention was paid to how the African American parents discuss racism and police racial bias and brutality towards unarmed African Americans with their minor children, how the African Americans’ experiences with police officers and law enforcement impacts their mental health, and the impacted African American families’ sources of strength. The findings revealed that African American parents are using “The Talk” approach to discuss racism, police racial bias and brutality towards unarmed African Americans with their minor children. It was also revealed that African Americans are mentally impacted by both their direct and indirect encounters with racially-biased police. Lastly, the primary sources of strength for African American families are their faith in “GOD,” prayer, and family.