Emotional Impact and a Model for Changing Racist Attitudes (From Impacts of Racism on White Americans, P 87-96, 1981, Benjamin P Bowser and Raymond G Hunt, eds. -- See NCJ-121103)

• NCJ Number: 121107
• Author(s): J B Karp
• Date Published: 1981
• Length: 10 pages
• Sale Source: Sage Publications, Inc
• Publication Type: Research (Theoretical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS.

Annotation

This essay discusses the theory that has evolved from work with whites and nonwhites on the issue of racism, describes counseling and support groups for changing white racist attitudes, and recommends strategies for working with such groups.

Abstract

Although racism's primary victims are persons of color, whites are also hurt by it even though they may not realize it. Many whites allow false fears based on misinformation to control and limit how they live their lives. A major result of racism for whites is guilt; lacking any other explanation for their racist feelings, white people either defend their attitudes as natural or blame themselves. Racism leaves most whites with a distorted picture of reality, and racism is manifested at many societal levels where it is based in economic exploitation and perpetuated by institutions. At the individual level, white racism must be dealt with in terms of its emotional aspects because that is where much of it resides. Any chronic emotional difficulty can take on racist implications in interracial situations, and white persons may assume that a racial difference is the reason for some difficulty. Whites should feel secure and proud of themselves and learn to challenge their fears in standing up to racism. These goals can be facilitated by counseling and support groups in which a nonjudgmental environment is provided to examine and eliminate feelings, attitudes, and behaviors related to racism.