Youth anti‐racism action: Contributions of youth perceptions of school racial messages and critical consciousness

Abstract

Abstract The current study examined whether youth perceptions of school racial messages that acknowledged the reality of racism (critical consciousness [CC] messages) or denied racism (color‐blind messages) predicted youth anti‐racism action through interpersonal and communal/political means. We further tested whether youths’ critical reflection of perceived inequality and anger toward social injustice—psychological aspects of CC development—mediated relations between school messages and youth actions. These questions were explored using structural equation modeling with 372 racially/ethnically diverse adolescents ( M age = 17.00; standard deviation = 1.29; female = 51.0%). Results indicated that youth perceptions of CC messages predicted their involvement in both interpersonal and communal/political anti‐racism action. Youths’ anger toward social injustice mediated links between school racial messages and anti‐racism action, albeit in unique ways. These findings underscore the power of schools in prompting youth anti‐racism action. Implications of the importance of partnerships between schools and youth community organizing groups to stimulate youth anti‐racism action were discussed.