The Effects of Interracial Contact in Twenty-first Century America

• In Event: 452 - Section on Racial and Ethnic Minorities Refereed Roundtable Session and Business Meeting
  In Refereed Roundtable 60min: Table 14. Racial Identity

Abstract

Building from a synthesis of Interracial Contact Theory and Racial Formations Theory, this study updates the Contact Hypothesis, focusing on contemporary issues of racial identity and ideology and on the experiences of those outside of the Black/White racial dichotomy. Nationally representative data from the Portraits of American Life Study is used to examine the effects of interracial contact on the distinct racial projects of Whites, Blacks and Non-Black Minorities. Hypotheses predict interracial contact effects for Whites at the level of increased racial awareness and decreased antistructuralism, with no significant effects on colorblindness. For Blacks, contact is predicted to have no significant effect on racial project variables while for Non-Black Minorities, racial projects are predicted to reflect the racial composition of outgroup contacts. Ordinary Least Squares regression analysis provided support for most, but not all hypotheses. Notably, for Non-Black Minorities, contact predicted greater racial awareness, but also greater antistructuralism and mixed effects for colorblindness.

Authors

• Matt Henderson, Baylor University

• Jerry Z. Park, Baylor University