Cognitive Effects of Racial Microaggressions Directed at Black College Women

Researchers sought to demonstrate that live exposure to racial microaggressions would lead to immediate cognitive depletion among Black college women at a predominantly White institution, if they identified race as central to their self-concept. One week prior to visiting the research lab, participants completed a measure of racial centrality via an online survey. Those assigned to the microaggression condition were exposed to racial microaggressions from a White research assistant, as opposed to those in the control condition who heard benign comments. Exposure led to cognitive depletion, as measured by Stroop, but racial centrality did not significantly moderate the relationship. These findings offer evidence that a hostile university environment could have deleterious consequences on the cognitive functioning of Black women.