Getting by with a little help from my antiracist White friends: Can White antiracism counteract the demobilizing effect of positive contact?

Abstract

Recent research indicates that positive intergroup contact with advantaged groups (e.g., White Americans) may decrease ingroup collective action amongst marginalized groups (e.g., Black, Hispanic/Latinx Americans). However, we hypothesized that seeing White Americans—and specifically one’s friends—as antiracists who actively oppose racial inequality could boost collective action in marginalized groups, counteracting this effect. Four studies and an internal meta-analysis revealed that positive contact was associated with less collective action, but perceiving one’s White friends as antiracist was associated with greater engagement. This effect was specific to White friends; perceiving White people as antiracist was not mobilizing. Further, anger about inequality and movement identification (social identity model of collective action [SIMCA]) mediated these associations. This research reveals that although positive contact can be demobilizing for marginalized racial groups, Whites’ vocal allyship within intergroup friendships can enhance social change behaviors.