Beyond Allyship: Critical Consciousness and Coalition Activism in Support of Black Lives among Latinx and Asian American Students

Following 2020, involvement in social justice movements, such as Black Lives Matter (BLM), has increased, particularly among non-Black allies. Research on psychological mechanisms predicting BLM support has been covered for white people. Our study examined whether critical consciousness, colorblindness, and awareness of white privilege predict BLM-supportive involvement among Latine and Asian individuals in a diverse college sample. Using an online cross-sectional survey with Latine and Asian college students ( N = 247), we assessed whether critical consciousness, colorblindness, and awareness of white privilege were associated with BLM-supportive involvement. In addition, we conducted exploratory analyses that examined whether ethnoracial identity moderated these associations. Multiple logistic regression illustrated that critical consciousness, colorblindness, and white privilege awareness were significant predictors of BLM involvement. Furthermore, exploratory analyses revealed specific ways in which the predictors of BLM involvement differed across Asian and Latine students. Our research extends previous work on social change through collective action among Latine and Asian college students, providing evidence of the psychological mechanisms that drive social change and BLM activism within two racially minoritized groups.