Systemic Racism in the United States by Robbie W. C. Tourse Johnnie Hamilton-Mason & Nancy J. Wewiorski

Author:Robbie W. C. Tourse, Johnnie Hamilton-Mason & Nancy J. Wewiorski
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Springer International Publishing, Cham

A People of Color Identity Model

There are five racial identity statuses for people of color as articulated in Helms’ (1995) Racial Identity Theory (RIT) . These statuses are Conformity (PreEncounter), Dissonance (Encounter), Immersion/Emersion, Internalization , and Integrative Awareness (Autonomy). Statuses are defined as the dynamic cognitive, emotional, and behavioral processes that govern a person’s interpretation of racial information in interpersonal environments. In the following descriptions, we present case examples that are aggregates of experiences.

Conformity is the first status. Here the person of color has absorbed many beliefs and values of the dominate culture and in the process devalues their own group and has an allegiance to white standards of merit. Through the negative internalization of stereotypes about people of color that are outside of his or her awareness, the individual seeks to assimilate and become accepted by whites and actively or passively distances him/herself from their like group of color such as African American, First Nation, Chinese, and Mexican. Franz Fanon (1967) termed this process “identification with the oppressor” (p. 73). As an example, a Chinese man may not be accepting of a lawyer to assist him in his lawsuit because the lawyer is Chinese and not white.

Dissonance, the second status, suggests that during this phase there is an ambivalence and confusion about one’s own socioracial group commitment and sense of self. A change is precipitated by an event or series of events that forces the individual to acknowledge the effect of racism in their life. More often, there are instances of social rejection by white friends and colleagues. This stage can last quite a long time. In a racist society, African Americans and other people of color, especially Latinos , Asians Americans, and some First Nation peoples, are bombarded by racial affronts and indignities, regardless of whether or not they are directly involved in interaction with whites (Carter, 1995 ). A fictional African American graduate student shares her reaction to a novella about an African American womanmy first feeling was annoyance when the author wished for ‘dark skin and dreads’ and I wondered if that was all that she saw in Detroit or if that was the first picture that came to mind when she thought of being black. I told myself to calm down and continue reading. I felt myself nodding in agreement because I too have desperately wished that I could blend into my surroundings since I have moved to New England . I am tired of being greeted at my practicum on the North Shore as “Oh, you’re black. You must not be from around here” Or “You’re black! My Gosh you didn’t sound black on the phone!” or “You go to an ivy league school? Are you on scholarship?” I have never been more painfully aware of my race or more ashamed.

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