1. Colorblind Attitudes, Empathy, and Shame: Preparing White Students for Anti-Racist Social Work Practice
- Author
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Brock-Petroshius, Kristen, Garcia-Perez, Javier, Gross, Margaret, and Abrams, Laura
- Abstract
This study examined the relationships between racial knowledge and emotions as predictors of anti-racist behaviors. We analyzed responses of 135 White MSW students from a cross-sectional survey conducted in May 2018. Regression was used to analyze the relationships between colorblind attitudes, empathy, guilt, shame, and anti-racist behaviors. Results indicated that colorblind attitudes and White shame, after controlling for other factors, were correlated with fewer anti-racist behaviors; empathy and having taken an ethnic studies course were related to more anti-racist behaviors. These results provide evidence that racial emotions affect anti-racist behaviors, above and beyond what is accounted for by knowledge about racism. The results encourage educators preparing students for anti-racist practice to develop interventions that target racial emotions among White students.
- Published
- 2023
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