Conspiracies, Racism, and Paranoia in the African-American Experience

This article investigates social-psychological explanations for African-Americans’ tendency to subscribe to what some term conspiracy theories, i.e., “the white establishment is out to get us” attitude. Of additional concern are the implications of such adherence for the new millennium: How will leaders of tomorrow build the community of communities, i.e., the meta-community, in the 21st century given the implications of a conspiracy discussion? We suggest that the consideration of the possibility of conspiracy has an impact and legitimacy in the black community that is of interest.