Critical Reflection, Racial Regard, and Appropriated Racial Oppression in Black Emerging Adults

Existing literature suggests that critical consciousness positively influences racial identity and decreases racially marginalized peoples’ susceptibility to internalizing negative beliefs and stereotypes regarding their racial group. However, these proposed associations remain largely theoretical in nature and have yet to be examined empirically. The present study addresses this gap by exploring the relationship between critical reflection, racial regard, and appropriated racial oppression. In a sample of 149 Black emerging adults, we explored the relationship between both private and public regard, critical reflection, and appropriated racial oppression. Our exploratory findings suggested that there was an indirect effect of critical reflection on appropriated racial oppression through private regard. These findings expand upon conceptual scholarship regarding the interrelations between critical consciousness, racial identity, and appropriated racial oppression.