Translating critical reflection into collective action: The mediating role of Asian American racial identity ideological values

Abstract

Throughout U.S. history, Asian Americans engaged in various forms of collective action to challenge systems of oppression. Despite this, few studies challenge the stereotype that Asian Americans are apolitical and uninterested in collective action and focus on psychological correlates of Asian Americans' collective action. Collective action may be motivated by critical reflection on racism and inequality, which may induce shifts in racial identity ideological values that lead Asian Americans to align with minoritized groups. The current study examines whether Asian American racial identity ideological values—specifically, Asian American Unity, Interracial Solidarity, and Transnational Critical Consciousness—help explain why critical reflection is linked to collective action among Asian Americans. Multiple mediation analyses suggested that, among Asian American college students in the Southwest United States (N = 272), beliefs about Interracial Solidarity and Asian American Unity mediated the relationship between critical reflection (i.e., Critical Reflection on Racism and Perceived Inequality) and collective action (i.e., Support for Black Lives Matter and Sociopolitical Participation). Transnational Critical Consciousness did not mediate the relationship between critical reflection and collective action. This study highlights how Asian American unity and interracial solidarity beliefs underlie Asian Americans' critical reflection and collective action.

Are Asian Americans BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color)? Internalization of the model minority stereotype and COVID-19 racial bias on interracial solidarity toward Black Americans.

“…In summary, our findings emphasize the importance of fostering collective minoritized identities to support cross-racial solidarity. For Asian Americans, this may necessitate the deconstruction of the MMS at the individual and public levels and the opportunity for critical reflection to facilitate recognition of shared experiences of discrimination and marginalization (Saavedra & Yoo, 2023). Alongside the growing movements for racial justice, the present study reveals new possibilities and suggestions for interracial solidarity.…”

Reflections on Psychological Critical Race Theory (PCRT) as a framework for disrupting racism in pursuit of social justice

“…Research examines the facilitating conditions for interracial solidarity and collective action. For example, Saavedra and Yoo (2023) found that Asian American unity and interracial solidarity, but not transnational critical consciousness, mediated support for Black Lives Matter. Building coalitions and providing evidence-based information plays an important role in collective action for social justice.…”