A Matter of Time? Temporal Framing, Race, and the Perception of Anti-Black and Anti-White Discrimination

Abstract

When asked to rate anti-Black and anti-White discrimination across six decades (the 50s – 00s), research suggests that Whites (but not Blacks) see discrimination as a zero-sum game that they have been losing since the 2000s (Norton & Sommers, 2011). However, data from other work suggests that White people do not believe Whites are discriminated against more than Blacks when rating perceived discrimination occurring today and in the future (Craig & Richeson, 2017). To investigate these discrepant findings, across two studies I examined how temporal framing, race, and other factors influence perceptions of anti-White and anti-Black discrimination. In Study 1 I found that temporal framing did not affect perceptions of discrimination. Also, although mean scores converge, Whites perceived more anti-Black than anti-White discrimination occurring today. Blacks also perceived higher levels of anti-Black than anti-White discrimination today, but to a greater extent than Whites. In Study 2 I found that the domain in which discrimination is considered (e.g., education and employment, criminal justice) affects Whites’ perceptions of anti-Black and anti-White discrimination today, with greater perception of rising anti-White and declining anti-Black discrimination in the education and employment domain. However, across both studies, only White Republicans (and in Study 2, Whites endorsing system-legitimizing beliefs) reported that Whites are discriminated against more than Blacks. These findings provide a better understanding of who is likely to perceive that Whites as a group face more discrimination than Blacks, and when these perceptions are likely to occur.