Changing Perspective: How Learning about Racism Influences Student Awareness and Emotion

Abstract

As students participate in diversity courses in greater numbers, it is important to understand the effects of these courses. Although other researchers have examined this topic, particularly with respect to stereotype reduction and racial attitudes, we were interested in how a diversity course might also affect students' awareness of racism and White privilege. With both quantitative and qualitative measures, our results showed increases in awareness and in feelings of racial guilt and responsibility. These findings expand the existing literature and highlight important questions for future research.