Colorblind Attitudes, Empathy, and Shame: Preparing White Students for Anti-Racist Social Work Practice

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.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

The work was supported by the Franklin D. Gilliam, Jr. Social Justice Fund and the UCLA Luskin Diversity, Disparities, and Differences (D3) program.

Notes on contributors

Kristen Brock-Petroshius

Kristen Brock-Petroshius, MSW, is a Social Welfare Doctoral Candidate at the University of California, Los Angeles. Javier Garcia-Perez, MSW, MS, MA, is a Social Welfare Doctoral Candidate at the University of California, Los Angeles. Margaret Gross, LICSW, is a mental health Crisis Clinician at First Call for Chittenden County in Vermont. Dr. Laura Abrams, MSW, is Chair and Professor of Social Welfare at the University of California, Los Angeles.