Blacks’ perception of a Biracial’s ingroup membership shapes attributions to discrimination following social rejection.

Abstract

Objectives: The present research examined if Blacks differ in how they categorize Blacks, Whites, and Black–White Biracials (Biracials, hereafter) as ingroup members and whether those categorizations predict the degree to which they attribute rejection feedback to discrimination. Methods: In Study 1 (N = 115), Black participants received rejection feedback from a Black, White, or Biracial online partner and then indicated the extent to which they perceived their partner as part of their racial ingroup and the extent to which they attributed the rejection feedback to discrimination. In Study 2a (N = 92), Black participants viewed the profile of a Biracial who self-identified as Black, White, or Biracial and then indicated the extent to which they perceived them as an ingroup member. Study 2b (N = 183) followed a similar design as Study 1 except that Black participants received rejection feedback from a Biracial online partner who self-identified as Black, White, or Biracial. Results: In Study 1, participants considered Black and Biracial partners to be more of an ingroup member than White partners and, in turn, were less likely to attribute rejection feedback to discrimination. In Study 2, participants perceived Biracials who self-identified as White, versus Black or Biracial, to be less of an ingroup member (Study 2a, 2b) and, in turn, were more likely to attribute rejection feedback to discrimination (Study 2b). Conclusions: Findings suggest that Blacks’ perception of a Biracial’s ingroup membership affects their attributions to discrimination following social rejection.

How Black is biracial? Black people’s empathy toward Black/White biracial people following racial discrimination in the United States.

“…Linked fate indicates that Black people perceive their progress signifies progress for Biracial people and vice versa (Ho et al, 2017). While previous research suggests Black people perceive Biracial-identified people as being just as much an ingroup member as Black-identified people (Smith & Wout, 2019), this relationship differs when assessed using linked fate. We find Black people indirectly ascribe less empathy toward Biracial targets who are either Biracial-or White-identified compared to those who are Black-identified, as they perceive less linked fate with non-Black-identified targets.…”

“…Generally, rates of rejection of Black/White Biracial people from the Black community are low (Franco et al, 2019; Franco & Holmes, 2016) but are more likely among Black people who endorse a nationalist racial ideology (Franco et al, 2019). Thus, Biracial people sometimes experience “conditional acceptance” into the Black community, wherein their status as ingroup members may be partially revoked, particularly when they identify as White or Biracial over Black (Harris & Khanna, 2010; Rockquemore & Brunsma, 2001; Smith & Wout, 2019; Thorton, 2009). While the racial classification literature suggests Black people see Biracial people as racial ingroup members, research with Biracial participants complicates these findings.…”

“…This rule has led to the categorization of Black/White Biracial people according to hypodescent-categorized as more Black than White, regardless of their degree of White heritage (Rockquemore et al, 2009). Although hypodescent is not universally applied (see Young et al, 2021 for a meta-analysis), both White and Black people sometimes apply hypodescent for different reasons (Ho et al, 2011(Ho et al, , 2017Peery & Bodenhausen, 2008;Smith & Wout, 2019;Wright et al, 2015).…”

Longitudinal Effects of the “Acting White” Accusation and Racial Identity Development Among Black College Students

“…Although individuals with low public regard tend to perceive more racial discrimination in society, research has shown that low public regard can protect Black people from the negative psychological consequences of discrimination (Sellers et al, 2006; Sellers & Shelton, 2003). Individuals with low public regard likely anticipate negative treatment by racial outgroup members and minimize psychological distress by attributing this mistreatment to racial discrimination rather than personal shortcomings (Smith & Wout, 2019; Wout, Murphy, & Steele, 2010). The meaning‐making process among Black female students in this study may have led them to recognize that the AWA is a culturally oppressive insult that is rooted within a system of White supremacy designed to normalize White traits and perpetuate negative stereotypes prescribed to non‐White populations (Durkee et al, 2019; Fanon, 1952).…”

“…Cultural invalidations may target people’s sense of belonging to the social groups they identify with, prompting changes in their identity beliefs. For example, Black multiracial people are perceived more negatively by monoracial Black people when they display identity markers of only one of their cultural backgrounds and are more likely to report experiencing racial homelessness (i.e., feelings of rejection from one’s racial group; Franco & Franco, 2016; Smith & Wout, 2019). Findings from Cheryan and Monin (2005) indicate that Asian American students who experience identity threats attacking their American identity become motivated to demonstrate more American behaviors and characteristics, such as listening to American music, playing American sports, and having American friends.…”