PERCEPTION OF RACISM IN AMBIGUOUS EVENTS: A CULTURAL PSYCHOLOGY ANALYSIS

Abstract

Previous research indicates that Black Americans are more likely than White Americans to think that racism still plays a role in current events. Mainstream accounts often explain these differences as the product of something about Black Americans that leads them to over-perceive racism. This paper applies a cultural psychology analysis to this phenomenon and suggests a more neutral account of the differences. This study examined whether engagement with history knowledge and various identity constructions (national and racial identity) were related to racism perceptions among White (n = 85) and Black (n = 65) undergraduates. As hypothesized, the present research replicated group differences in perception and found a positive relationship between historical knowledge and perceptions of racism in Hurricane Katrina-related events. The present research suggests that there are representations of American history that reconcile these racial differences in perception and allows all Americans, regardless of their identity, to find common ground.