From Hostile Media Perceptions to Action: The Role of Racial Empathy in the Black Lives Matter Movement

ABSTRACT

In the wake of the 2020 Black Lives Matter (BLM) protests that swept across the nation, this study aims to identify potential cognitive-motivational factors that account for the increased likelihood among pro-movement citizens to engage in BLM activism. Using a nationally representative survey of U.S. adults, we examine a theoretical model grounded in the Orientation-Stimuli-Orientation-Response framework in which the racial empathy that may emerge from perceptions of a hostile information environment plays a pivotal mediating role in the path from partisan support to peaceful/confrontational forms of BLM action. Theoretical and practical implications of our findings are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Black lives matter
• racial empathy
• hostile media
• social movement
• social protest

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the University of Wisconsin Foundation [Grant Number AAA2223].

Notes on contributors

Hyungjin Gill

Hyungjin Gill is an Assistant Professor of Communication at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. His research focuses on political communication, specifically exploring (1) how interactions on digital media platforms influence people’s evaluations of political information and their behavioral intentions, and (2) the relationship between the use of interactive media technology and social perceptions across different cultural contexts.

Carlos Dávalos

Carlos Dávalos is a Ph.D. candidate at UW-Madison’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication. His research focuses on doing comparative mass media research between Mexico and the United States. Carlos will be the Mellon Public Humanities Fellow for the 2024-2025 period.

Hernando Rojas

Hernando Rojas (PhD, University of Wisconsin–Madison) is Helen Firstbrook Franklin Professor in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. His scholarship focuses on new communication technologies and social mobilization, influence of audience perceptions of media on public opinion, and media and democratic governance.