African American College Students and Racial Microaggressions: Assumptions of Criminality

Abstract

African American college students experience a high number of racial microaggressions related to the assumptions of criminality. Racial microaggressions are subtle racist statements or actions that are intended to denigrate people of color. 240 African American college students who attended a Historically Black University in the South participated. The researchers focused on REMS Subscales 2, Second-Class Citizen and Assumptions of Criminality, with regards to gender and status of work of the college students. The study results revealed a significant difference between African American male and female college students’ experience of racial microaggressions related to assumptions of criminality. No difference was revealed when comparing students who worked to students who did not work. The researchers discussed coping strategies to help African American college students’ fortify themselves to the deleterious effects of racial microaggressions on their emotional and physical health.