Examining How Critical Consciousness is Fostered, Facilitated, and Performed Among Young People Across the US

Session Type: Paper Symposium

Abstract

Young people of color are navigating and challenging deep-seated structural racism in the United States (US). We examine young people’s political engagement using critical consciousness (CC), which refers to how individuals overcome sociopolitical oppression and achieve liberation. CC is composed of three dimensions: critical reflection (i.e., careful analysis of structures of inequality), political efficacy (i.e., perceived ability to effect social change), and critical action (i.e., action taken to achieve social justice).

This organized symposium bridges together four studies that examine how CC is fostered, facilitated, and performed among young people across the US. Study one qualitatively examined youth’s reflection of a community-based cross-age peer mentoring program in Chicago. Urban youth of color draw from CC as a source of resilience and inspiration for collective reflection. Study two quantitatively examined social responsibility and social connection as critical pathways for CC development among Asian and Latino young adults in California. Study three longitudinally examined hope, as an internal asset, in CC development among youth of color in Northeastern US. Finally, conceptualizing social media as a civic space, study four investigated immigrant-origin young adults’ social media posts on the Black Lives Matter movement. Findings show that participants develop critical reflection, political efficacy, and engage in collective critical action via social media posts.

This panel contributes to the national conversation on systemic racism and sociopolitical engagement among young people of color. We call to action research and policies that address oppressive systems and remove institutionalized barriers for young people of color.

Sub Unit

• Diversity, Equity & Social Justice

Chair

• Marbella Uriostegui, University of Illinois at Chicago

Individual Presentations

• Exploring PYD and the Development of Critical Consciousness for Youth of Color - Presenting Author: Ogechi Onyeka, Loyola University Chicago; Non-Presenting Author: Kevin Miller, Loyola University Chicago; Non-Presenting Author: Chana Matthews, Loyola University Chicago; Non-Presenting Author: Will Donnelly, Loyola University Chicago; Non-Presenting Author: Maryse H Richards, Loyola University Chicago; Non-Presenting Author: Katherine Tyson-McCrea, Loyola University Chicago

• Social Connection and Social Responsibility as Pathways in Asian and Latino Young Adults’ Critical Consciousness - Presenting Author: Marbella Uriostegui, University of Illinois at Chicago; Non-Presenting Author: Andrea DaViera, University of Illinois at Chicago; Non-Presenting Author: Juan Ramón Arvizu-Sevilla, University of Illinois at Chicago; Non-Presenting Author: Hana Khan, University of Illinois at Chicago; Non-Presenting Author: Amanda L. Roy, University of Illinois at Chicago

• Using Growth Mixture Modeling to Investigate Associations Between Hope and the Development of Critical Consciousness - Presenting Author: Sara Suzuki, Boston College; Non-Presenting Author: Sidney May, Boston College; Non-Presenting Author: Scott Seider, Boston College

• Twitter as a Space for Critical Consciousness Development: Immigrant-Origin Youth’s Activism During Black Lives Matter - Presenting Author: Taina Quiles, University of Virginia; Non-Presenting Author: Sara Wilf, University of California - Los Angeles; Non-Presenting Author: Elena Maker Castro, University of California Los Angeles; Non-Presenting Author: Laura Wray-Lake, University of California - Los Angeles