Far-Right Black Americans: A Qualitative Look at Whiteness Ideologies and Conservatism in Communities of Color

• In Event: Whiteness and Crime: The Role of Power in Inequalities

Abstract

While the United States remains nearly evenly divided between Democrats (46%) and Republicans (43%), the racial composition of these political affiliations is starkly different. The Republican Party has remained overwhelmingly white, with white membership ranging from 88% (2016) to 85% (2022). Extant research indicates that a significant portion of white Americans—over 40%—consistently endorse far-right and exclusionary sociopolitical beliefs, often rooted in racial animus toward communities of Color. These ideologies are most prevalent among white men, those with lower educational attainment, lower socioeconomic status, Christians, and Southerners. Isom’s Theory of Whiteness and Crime underscores how whiteness functions as a structuring force that legitimizes racialized violence, criminalization, and exclusionary policies while shaping political identities. The entrenchment of whiteness ideologies through perceptions of habitus angst, aggrieved entitlement, and conservative media consumption has been linked to participation in extremist movements such as the Alt-Right. Yet, a small but underexamined subset of right-wing adherents includes people of Color, particularly Black and Latine individuals. This study utilizes qualitative data from a broader investigation of the Alt-Right to explore the ideological frameworks and social concerns of self-identified Alt-Right Black and Latine members. We interrogate how internalized whiteness and engagement with conservative media shape their alignment with far-right extremism. This study provides critical insight into the ways whiteness ideologies are internalized and weaponized within communities of Color, reinforcing racial hierarchies and systemic exclusion. Implications for policy and future research are discussed.

Authors

• Deena A. Isom, University of South Carolina

• Toniqua C. Mikell, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth

• Sarah Louise Franklin, University of South Carolina

• Marissa Liggins, University of South Carolina