White Symbolic Racism in America
the stereotype that Black people are morally inferior to White people, and that they violate traditional White American values such as hard-work and independence. beliefs may cause the subject to discriminate against a certain race and to justify this discrimination as a concern for justice. However, these beliefs operate to maintain the racial status quo in a manner described by Social Dominance Theory. Some prejudiced people do not view symbolic racism as prejudice since it is not linked directly to race but indirectly through social and political issues. Sears & Henry (2005) created five characterizing themes that justify the opposition to social policies designed to promote equality, while still supporting the abstract idea of equality:
1. Racial prejudice and discrimination no longer exists.
2. Any Black-White differences in economic outcomes is a result of Black people’s lack of motivation to work hard.
3. Black people’s anger over inequality is unjustified since they are unwilling to work to get what they want.
4. Black people seek special favors rather than working to get ahead.
5. Relative to White people, Black people have been getting more economically than they deserve.
Symbolic racism is a form of modern racism, as it is more subtle, indirect, and rationalizable than old-fashioned, more overt forms of racism, such as those characterized in Jim Crow Laws. As symbolic racism develops through socialization and its processes occur without conscious awareness, an individual with symbolic racist beliefs may genuinely oppose racism and believe he or she is not racist. Symbolic racism is perhaps the most prevalent racial attitude today.
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