Anti-racist actions and accountability: not more empty promises

Abstract

PurposeThe current piece summarizes five critical points about racism from the point of view of black scholars and allies: (1) black people are experiencing exhaustion from and physiological effects of racism, (2) racism extends far beyond police brutality and into most societal structures, (3) despite being the targets of racism, black people are often blamed for their oppression and retaliated against for their response to it, (4) everyone must improve their awareness and knowledge (through both formal education and individual motivation) to fight racism and (5) anti-racist policies and accountability are key to enact structural reformation.FindingsThe first three of these points detail the depths of the problem from the perspectives of the authors and the final two lay out a call to action.Practical implicationsThis viewpoint is the joint effort of 14 authors who provided a unified perspective.Originality/valueThis was one of the most original experiences the authors have had – working with 13 former/current students on joint perspectives about police brutality and racism more generally. The authors thank for the opportunity.

Racial Inequality in Academia: Systemic Origins, Modern Challenges, and Policy Recommendations

“…White adults therefore tend show a motivated tendency to downplay their own racial privileges and endorse meritocracy (Lowery et al, 2007). This aligns with recent research showing that people underestimate the magnitude of racial inequality in society (Kraus et al, 2017) and our institutions (Boykin et al, 2020; Ray, 2019). If people do not “see” racism, they will hardly be motivated to fix it, in the academy or elsewhere.…”

Psychological Science is Not Race Neutral

“…We see a similar pattern with adults: White people tend to discount their racial privileges and endorse more meritocratic conceptions of society except in very specific circumstances where for example, their personal characteristics are affirmed (e.g., Knowles & Lowery, 2012;Phillips & Lowery, 2018). This pattern of racial ignorance aligns with research demonstrating that White people underestimate racial inequality's magnitude in society (Kraus, Rucker, & Richeson, 2017) and in the institutions that they are a part of (Boykin et al, 2020;Ray, 2019).…”

“…This assumption, buttressed by narratives like the American Dream or the belief in meritocracy, that society becomes more equitable as time passes, underappreciates and dangerously ignores the significant collective struggle that is necessary to bring about real change (Boykin et al, 2020).…”

(Un)masking threat: Racial minorities experience race-based social identity threat wearing face masks during COVID-19

“…The suggestion of bandanas appears particularly problematic, as they directly prime racial stereotypes associated with criminality for Black individuals (MacLin & Herrera, 2006). While appropriate for some individuals, it entails additional risk for racial minorities who consistently experience acts of implicit bias, microaggressions, dehumanization, and explicit prejudice in the United States (e.g., Boykin et al, 2020). Recognizing this reality, Lincoln County (Oregon) made an explicit exception for racial minorities from their county-wide face mask ordinance (Albert, 2020).…”