In the aftermath of a racialized incident: Exploring international students of color’s perceptions of campus racial climate.

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to illuminate international students of Color's experiences with a campus racial incident at a predominately White institution (PWI). This study emerged after the release of a YouTube video from a self-proclaimed White supremacist at the participants' institution, who made comments such as "I am the most active white nationalist in [the state]." In this study, we seek to answer the question: How does a campus racialized incident affect international students of Color's experience and perceptions of the campus climate at a PWI? The experiences of this population must be considered, especially due to the rise in incidents on campuses that are related to race, racism, and nativism. Findings from this study include how participants made sense of the incident from personal, institutional, national, and transnational perspectives. Participants share their concerns with discrimination and campus safety, confusion about free speech and institutional responses, and communication with family back home. Implications for practice include how institutions can provide support to international students of color, who have intersecting identities related to race, ethnicity, language, and religion, as they navigate campus racialized incidents in the United States.

“Because Here, White is Right”: Mental Health Experiences of International Graduate Students of Color from a Critical Race Perspective

“…Anandavalli and colleagues (2020) noted that, during uncertain sociopolitical contexts such as the Trump era and the COVID-19 prompted pandemic, minoritized international students are especially likely to be victimized for their racial identities. Furthermore, Yao et al (2020) noted the profound effect of White supremacy and xenophobia on ISC, and the denigrating message universities may send when they take minimal action against antiimmigrant tropes.…”

“…Being international students, you get used to it" (Lee & Rice, 2007, p. 29). Yao et al (2020) explored the lived experiences of ISC after a racialized incident on campus, wherein a White identifying college student posted a video on YouTube stating, "I am the most active white nationalist in [the state]." Participants shared that they were really scared and found themselves in a constant state of hypervigilance, fearing they might encounter this individual on their college campus.…”

“It is not my fault”: Exploring experiences and perceptions of racism among international students of color during COVID-19.

“…Fries-Britt et al (2014) pointed out that international students' experiences in the classroom with peers and faculty were affected by the issue of race, even with regard to their hairstyle and dress. Moreover, Yao (2018) demonstrated that a racialized campus culture makes international students think of themselves as outsiders, and these negative experiences lead them to feel isolated and removed from American students, especially while trying to make sense of contemporary racial incidents (Yao et al, 2020).…”

Caught in the middle? Chinese international students’ self-formation amid politics and pandemic

“…Since COVID-19, an “anti-mobility” stance has arisen (Hu, Xu, & Tu, 2020), and physically mobile students openly face double exclusion at home and abroad. In the US context, they are blamed for the “Chinese Virus” or told to “go back to your country.” Despite being subject to these racist attacks, Chinese students are invisible in racial/ethnic diversity discourses within US higher education (Yao, Briscoe, & Rutt, 2021). Conversely, as the virus continues to spread and the death toll mounts, they are suspected of bringing the virus back to China.…”