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.
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No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
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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.