This study explored relationships between race, citizen participation, and three dimensions of cognitive empowerment: understandings of power through relationships, political functioning, and shaping ideology. Results revealed that, unlike emotional empowerment, cognitive empowerment was not directly related to citizen participation, and effects of participation on cognitive empowerment did not differ for African Americans and Caucasians. Importantly, a main effect of race on cognitive empowerment was found which showed that, accross levels of participation, African Americans had greater understandings of power through relationships and shaping ideology than Caucasians. Implications for empowerment theory and practice are discussed.
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