When the Personal is Political: Ethnic Identity, Ally Identity, and Political Engagement Among Indigenous People and People of Color

Abstract

Objectives: During an increasingly hostile social and political climate for ethnic-racial minorities, psychologists have begun to question the extent to which Indigenous People and People of Color (IPPOC) see one another as in the same boat (Rivas-Drake & Bañales, 2018). Consequently, the present mixed-methods study examines allyship as a potential politicized collective identity and its associations with ethnic identity, personality traits, and political engagement among IPPOC. Method: The present study was conducted across two samples in August 2016 (n = 256) and 2017 (n = 305). Participants were administered a questionnaire including measures of ally identity, ethnic identity, personality traits, and quantitative and qualitative measures of political engagement. Results: EFA and CFA findings suggest a two- factor solution for ally identity (ally beliefs and behaviors). For Sample 1, findings from the path analysis suggest 1) ethnic identity exploration predicts ally beliefs and behaviors (Model 1), 2) extraversion predicts ally behaviors, while agreeableness and neuroticism predicts ally beliefs (Model 2), and 3) ally beliefs and behaviors predict awareness, while ethnic identity exploration predicts involvement in political action (Model 3), even when personality traits are considered (Model 4). For Sample 2, findings were similar with some notable variations. Thematic analysis findings suggest IPPOC are politically engaged through social media, individual actions, protests, and civic engagement. Conclusions: There is no one pathway to sociopolitical engagement, as elements of ethnic and ally identity provide different paths to sociopolitical awareness and involvement, with ethnic identity exploration being a particularly powerful mechanism for allyship and sociopolitical action.

Ethnic-Racial Identity and Adolescents’ Positive Development in the Context of Ethnic-Racial Marginalization: Unpacking Risk and Resilience

“…More recently, Pinetta et al (2020) found that ethnic-racial exploration, but not resolution, was positively associated with Latinx early adolescents' expectations that they would be involved in their communities. Among Indigenous and other college students of color, more ERI exploration was also positively associated with students' engagement in political actions and a stronger sense of themselves as allies to other communities of color (Fish et al, 2021). In addition, Bañales et al (2020) found that increases in ERI resolution were associated with increased civic and community orientations among a pooled sample of Latinx and Black early adolescents.…”

Showing Up: A Theoretical Model of Anti‐Racist Identity and Action for Latinx Youth

“…In this paper, we articulate theoretical mechanisms by which Latinx youth may develop anti‐racist identities and engage in anti‐racist actions on behalf of their own ethnic/racial communities and other marginalized communities oppressed by white supremacy. To do so, we draw on theory and research on ERI (Umaña‐Taylor et al., 2014), intersectionality (Crenshaw, 2017), liberation psychology (e.g., Comas‐Díaz & Torres Rivera, 2020), critical consciousness, and sociopolitical development theories (Freire, 1974; Watts et al., 2003), and allyship (e.g., Fish et al., 2021) to understand the psychological processes necessary for Latinx youth to develop anti‐racist identities and actions. We weave these literatures together to present a theoretical model of Latinx youth’s anti‐racist identities and actions (see Figure 1).…”

Ethnic-Racial Identity as a Source of Resilience and Resistance in the Context of Racism and Xenophobia

“…Cross-group allyship—“when a person of one social identity group...stands up in support of members of another social identity group who experiences discrimination or is treated unfairly” (Fish et al, 2020, pg. 5)—is an important piece of the puzzle for advancing positive intergroup relations among minoritized groups.…”

“…But an important question remains: How do ethnic-racial identities support or hinder allyship across distinct types of marginalization? Drawing on Edwards’ (2006) conceptualization of ally identity , Fish and colleagues (2020) examined beliefs about the role of privilege, oppression, and power as well as behaviors that demonstrate the capacity to be allies to other racially or culturally marginalized groups among 18-year-old students in their first year of college who identified either as Asian, Black or African, Latinx, Middle Eastern and North African (MENA), Native American Indian, or mixed ethnicity. They examined allies’ (a) belief that it was important for the outgroup to know they cared about them and the need to work to correct injustice and (b) behaviors that demonstrated they support, use their power to protect, and work with other groups to improve their conditions.…”

“…They examined allies’ (a) belief that it was important for the outgroup to know they cared about them and the need to work to correct injustice and (b) behaviors that demonstrated they support, use their power to protect, and work with other groups to improve their conditions. They found that greater ethnic identity exploration was associated with greater endorsement of ally identity beliefs and engagement in ally behaviors (Fish et al, 2020).…”