Paradoxes of Privilege and Participation: The Case of the American Red Cross

Abstract

This critical discourse analysis of the American Red Cross (ARC) interrogates the discourses of situated ARC stakeholders following their participation in the 2005 hurricane disaster relief efforts. The author uses critical discourse analysis as a guiding theoretical framework and method of analysis to reflect on how the language and practices of the ARC, on a variety of levels, normalizes Whiteness and maintains White privilege. Following this analysis, the author offers a discussion of how communication research, criticism, theory, and practice can contribute to the elimination of the perpetuation of privileged racial ideology and organizational practice.

Keywords:

• American Red Cross
• Discourse
• Privilege
• Race
• Whiteness

Acknowledgments

A previous version of this manuscript was presented at the 2006 annual meeting of the National Communication Association, San Antonio, TX. The author would like to thank Tina Harris, Kevin Barge, Jennifer Monahan, and Donald Rubin for their feedback on previous versions of this manuscript.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Christopher R. Groscurth

Christopher R. Groscurth (Ph.D., University of Georgia, 2008) is a senior consultant at Trinity Health, a nonprofit Catholic health care system.