Conceptualizing Racism through the Eyes of Diverse College Students
Color-blind racial beliefs are characterized by a failure to acknowledge the existence of racism in society and/or the impact of racism on society. Missing from the literature on racial color-blindness is an in-depth exploration of the views and discourse of color-blind of racial minorities. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore how racially diverse undergraduates define racism and identify what factors (e.g., social background, personal experiences, and media) have shaped their beliefs about racism. Preliminary data analysis using the Consensual Qualitative Research method (CQR; Hill, Thompson, & Williams, 1997) suggests that college students define racism in various ways such as prejudiced beliefs and stereotypes about other racial groups and/or a structural system which disadvantages racial minority groups. Participants identified various social factors that influenced their racial views such as: parents, undergraduate education, friends, and personal experiences/ observations. Future directions of the study are discussed.
School:
Johnson C. Smith University
Department:
Psychology
Research Advisor:
Helen Neville
Department of Research Advisor:
Educational Psychology
Year of Publication:
2003