The Influence of Black Racial Identity on the Forgiveness of Whites

Abstract

Forgiving a group of individuals for past transgressions instead of a single individual has only recently garnered research attention. The present study was designed to determine the association between Black racial identity attitudes and the forgiveness of Whites. An intergroup forgiveness instrument developed to assess forgiveness between Protestants and Catholics in Northern Ireland was adapted to assess racial forgiveness. Results were generally consistent with our predictions. The Internalization Multiculturalist Inclusive identity scale predicted both Future and Never Forgiving. However, the Immersion-Emersion Anti-White and Internalization Afrocentric scale predicted Never Forgiving but not Future Forgiving. Dispositional forgiveness and personality features were found to be associated with intergroup forgiveness. Research in racial intergroup forgiveness may have implications for areas such as race relations and public policy.