Critical Race Theory, Racial Microaggressions and Campus Racial Climate: The experiences of African-American college students

Back to Annotation Database

Critical Race Theory, Racial Microaggressions and Campus Racial Climate: The experiences of African-American college students

D. Solórzano
M. Ceja
T. Yosso

Abstract

Microaggressions are subtle insults (verbal, nonverbal, and/or visual) directed toward people of color, often automatically or unconsciously. Using critical race theory as a framework, the stud described in this article provides an examination of racial microaggressions and how they influence the collegiate racial climate. Using focus group interview data from African American students at three universities, it reveals that racial microaggressions exist in both academic and social spa in the collegiate environment. The study shows how African American students experience and respond to racial microaggressions. It also demonstrates how racial microaggressions have a negative impact on the campus racial climate.

Keywords

Annotation

This study looks at microaggressions on college campuses aimed at minority students. This study builds on a 1998 study done by Grace Carroll in white she asks African American students and workshops a series of three questions to discover if they had or are often exposed to microaggressions. Most participants are. The authors define microaggressions as “subtle insults (verbal, nonverbal, and/or visual) directed toward people of color, often automatically or unconsciously” (p. 10). In order to understand minority students’ experiences with microaggressions, the researchers use focus-groups and informants spoke about their experiences in academic and social spaces on campus. By the end of the present study, the authors add two additional questions to Carroll’s original three. Both of these questions revolve around success and completion of minority students.

Copy to Clipboard

About the Study

Back to Annotation Database