James M. Thomas

(he/him)
The family of Nolan Wells, during a July 20, 2026, service in Ocean Springs, Miss., for the 18-year-old found dead after taking a July 4 boat trip with friends. AP Photo/Gerald Herbert

White parents who tell their kids that race doesn’t matter are ignoring the long shadow of racism

18-year old Nolan Wells’ death in Mississippi has raised again the importance of ‘the talk’ that Black parents have with their children. But what do white parents tell their kids about race?
Scholars interviewed white Southerners to get past the stereotypes people hold of them. Former Mississippi state flag, CGInspiration, iStock/Getty Images Plus

‘It’s a complicated time to be a white Southerner’ − and their views on race reflect that

How do white Southerners think about their racial status in a world that is scrutinizing white advantages? Researchers found people across the political spectrum grappling with what being white means.

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