From Microaggressions to Viral Trends: A Qualitative Examination of Black Emerging Adults’ Experiences With Online Racial Discrimination

Abstract

This study examines how Black emerging adults experience and perceive online racial discrimination. We systematically analyzed responses from 260 Black college students (aged 18-29) at a predominantly White institution in the Midwest, collected during the fall 2020 semester. Utilizing a two-step approach, we identified emerging themes in their experiences, then examined these themes through the lens of the Taxonomy of Online Racism (TOR), allowing us to understand how different manifestations of ORD intersect and relate. Content analysis revealed eleven forms of ORD, with Microaggressions (n = 67), Encounters with Content Related to Police Violence Against Black Individuals (n = 46), and Exposure to Anti-Black Lives Matter Sentiments (n = 44) being the most prevalent. We also find that ORD is a complex phenomenon, shaped by factors such as current events and individual interpretations, which can differ from established definitions in research and policy.