Dr glenn adams 3

Racism and Oppression:
A Cultural Psychology Analysis
Glenn Adams
Department of Psychology and Kansas African Studies Center
University of Kansas, USA
25 MAY 2011
Faculty of Psychology, University for Social Sciences and Humanities,
Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam.


"The government response to Hurricane Katrina would have been faster
if most victims had been White" (Page and Puente, 2005).

x

x

White
Americans

African
Americans

|------------------------|------------------------|------------------------|-------------------------|
0
25
50
75
100

Group Differences in Perception of Racism
Mainstream Approach:
Treats African American perception of racism as an exaggeration
or distortion of reality that requires an explanation.
Implies that European American denial of racism is accurate,
objectively true, and without need of explanation.
Cultural Psychology Approach:
Treats African American perception of racism reflect legitimate,
defensible understanding of events.
Emphasizes that European American denial is not “objective” but
constitutes a distortion of reality that requires explanation.


Group Differences in Perception of Racism
Motivational or Evaluative Interpretations
Informational or Perceptual Interpretations
Definitions of Racism and Discrimination
African Americans may perceive greater racism b/c they apply a
broad definition that includes institutional discrimination.
European Americans may perceive less racism because they apply
a narrow definition that limits "racism" to acts of intentional
discrimination by hostile, prejudiced individuals.


Prevailing Model: Prejudice Problematic
Prejudice &
Stereotype
Direct Action

Perpetrator

Target
Differential
Treatment


Cultural Psychology Model

Cultural Atmosphere
of Racism


Group Differences in Perception of Racism
Motivational or Evaluative Interpretations
Informational or Perceptual Interpretations
Definitions of Racism
Knowledge of Racist History
African Americans may show greater endorsement b/c they inhabit
worlds where personal experience and representations of history
acknowledge a greater role of racism in society.


Representations of Black History
Study 1: Do displays for Black History Month differ by cultural
setting? (i.e., reflect different desires and understandings)

MIND IN
BRAIN

MIND IN

CONTEXT

("Psyche")

("Culture")

Study 2 : Do different constructions of BHM promote perception
of racism and support for anti-racist policy (and thereby
contribute to reproduction or resistance of domination)?


We visited 16 KC area schools, 12 of which had BH displays.
7 Displays were from schools where European American
student population ranged from 84-92% (mean = 86%).
5 Displays were from schools where European American student
population ranged from 2-28% (mean = 16%).
47 White undergrads at KU completed identification measures and
rated photographs of all 12 displays.
Liking (4 items; e.g., How much do you like this display?)
Recognition (4 items; e.g., How familiar are you with the contents
of the display?)
* Salter, P. S., & Adams, G. (2009). Representations of Black history as instruments of oppression and liberation. Manuscript in
preparation. University of Kansas. Lawrence, KS.


School Type F(1,46)=77.30, p<.001
Rating Type F(1,46)=38.81, p<.001
Interaction F(1,46)=51.90, p<.001

Participants: 78 KU undergraduates
Procedure: Displays as BH manipulation
Participants view 5 displays from either Black or White
schools (i.e., between-subjects design).

* Salter, P. S., & Adams, G. (2009). Representations of Black history as instruments of oppression and liberation. Manuscript in
preparation. University of Kansas. Lawrence, KS.


Racism Perception
Omnibus: F(2,78) = 2.21, p = .11
C1 (-1,-1,+2): F(1,78) = 1.10, p = .04
C2 (-1,+1, 0): F(1,78) < 0.33, p = .31

Support for Policy
Omnibus: F(2,78) = 2.35, p = .10
C1 (-1,-1,+2): F(1,78) = 0.87, p = .07
C2 (-1,+1, 0): F(1,78) =0.43, p=.13


Representations of Black History
S1: Mainstream representations of BHM inscribe particular
beliefs and desires (associated with White identity concerns)

MIND IN
BRAIN

MIND IN
CONTEXT

("Psyche")

("Culture")

S2: Regardless of individual intention, mainstream
representations of BHM serve as a tool for denial of injustice
and opposition to social justice policy.