Dr. Mia Smith-Bynum, professor of Family Science at the University of Maryland School of Public Health, participated in a Q&A with WalletHub where she discussed key factors to improve racial equality in political and social opportunities. Wallethub recently released its list of the best states for racial equality in civic engagement - Maryland is ranked ninth - and asked experts to contextualize their findings. Dr. Smith-Bynum emphasized the importance of discussions of civic participation in K-12 classrooms and at home, but also explained that voter suppression law hurts current and future voters of color.
“ If parents are discouraged about having their voices heard by voting, their children will pick up on those messages and follow suit,” she wrote. “Local and state governments who are serious about engaging youth of color will eliminate these policies and be intentional about the ways they invite engagement from communities of color.”
A clinical psychologist by training, Dr. Smith-Bynum is an expert in mental health in Black communities, family interaction and communication in ethnic minority families, parenting and racial identity. She also researches adolescent mental health and sexual behavior, parent-adolescent communication about difficult topic, and serves as the director for the Black Families Research Group.