Blackface Research Articles

Addressing barriers to health care among Black Alaskans: contributions by social work research to an agenda of health equity

ABSTRACT Black Alaskans face serious barriers to health care. This paper reports on qualitative results of a health needs assessment to understand the health challenges facing Black Alaskans. Utilizing exploratory thematic analysis, the findings indicate that Black Alaskans experience barriers such as high cost of care, underinsurance, lack of information and education, a shortage of BIPOC health providers, stigma, negative perceptions by health-care providers, and racism both in the community and in the health-care system. The paper concludes by discussing emerging health equity initiatives to advance responsive care for Black Alaskans.

Understanding Barriers and Strategies to Accessing Healthy Food in Urban Agriculture for Community Residents in Predominantly Black Communities

Background: Some residents in predominantly Black communities face significant challenges in accessing healthy food. However, urban agriculture is a growing sector that aims to increase overall food production, access to affordable and nutritious produce, and potentially improve community food security. Purpose: This study aimed to provide insight into barriers and strategies that urban agriculture growers and advocates identified for accessing urban agriculture markets in their communities. Research Design and Study Sample: We interviewed and conducted focus groups with 17 urban growers and local food advocates that work in predominantly Black communities in Chicago. Data Collection and/or Analysis: Understanding the complexities of access to healthy food can be challenging; therefore, we used the concept of access – accessibility, availability, affordability, accommodation, and acceptability – to better understand these barriers. Results: Key barriers were the lack of accessibility to traditional food retailers, high availability of processed foods, and cultural acceptability of urban-produced foods. Conclusion: Building urban agriculture networks to support growers, connect with consumers, and emphasize political engagement can help to diversify and grow urban agriculture.

376 Effects of Mineral Supplementation During Range Grazing on Ovine Performance

Abstract Western US sheep production systems are dependent on rangeland forages to meet nutritional needs for animal production. While many native rangeland soils and forages are deficient in minerals like Cu, Se, and Zn, it is unknown whether ewes will alter forage selection if they receive a mineral supplemented diet and if alternative forages will affect performance on range. The objectives of this study are to quantify the effects of mineral supplementation on ewe forage selectivity on rangeland, range utilization, and animal performance. We hypothesized ewes who receive a trace mineral supplement will have a more diverse diet, greater rangeland utilization, and improved performance characteristics than their non-supplemented contemporaries. In this study, (n = 59) ewes were grazed across four summer pastures on Cedar Mountain near Cedar City, Utah. Ewes between the ages of 1 and 6 with an average weight of 87 Kg ± 13 Kg were stratified by initial weight and breed into one of two different treatment groups: 1) trace mineral supplement ad libitum (TRT; n = 30), or 2) no mineral supplement (CON; n = 29). Ewe breed types consisted of black face type breeds (BLF; Suffolk) and white face type breeds (WF; Targhee, Rambouillet, and their crosses). All ewes received a similar diet of alfalfa hay and triticale without access to ad libitum mineral supplementation 30 days before the start of the trial. A solar powered C-lock inc. pro was used to track individual animal mineral intake. Back fat (BF) and loin eye depth (LED) were measured at day 0 and day 116 of the trial via ultrasound. Additionally, fecal samples were collected and used for fecal metabarcoding (fDNA) at approximately 30% pasture utilization, which measures the proportion of plant DNA in the feces to determine forage species consumed. Plant species were sorted into functional groups (forbs, grass likes, grasses, shrubs, and trees). The GLM procedure of SAS was used to analyze BF, LED, and fDNA. The mixed procedure of SAS with day as a repeated measure was used to analyze percentage change in body weight. Control ewes had greater BF by 0.08 cm (P = 0.02). No difference in BF was observed by breed (P = 0.8). Loin eye depth was greater by 0.2 cm (P = 0.01) in BLF ewes than WF ewes. Supplemented ewes maintained 1% more of their initial body weight than CON ewes (P = 0.01). No forage selection differences were observed by treatment or breed (P> 0.2). The current study results indicate that mineral supplementation on range may not affect forage selectivity but can benefit animals by maintaining body weight over the grazing season.

Get In and Get Out: White Racial Transformation and the US Gothic Imagination

This article examines the Gothic trope of White racial transformation in Robert Montgomery Bird’s Sheppard Lee (1836) and Jordan Peele’s Get Out (2017). These seemingly disparate texts both feature White men who turn Black via supernatural body hopping or experimental surgery. In these texts, Blackness acts as an emotional and material resource for White characters that perversely bolsters Whiteness by escaping it. Little-known outside of antebellum specialisms, Sheppard Lee enhances our understanding of race in the Gothic by considering why Whiteness may be rejected in the early nation. Written in the context of blackface minstrelsy, the novel transforms downwardly mobile Sheppard into an enslaved man as a respite from the pressures of economic success. Get Out builds on its nineteenth-century precursors by showing the Black body as a desired and necessary vessel for the “post-racial” White American self, who swaps their physical Whiteness for Blackness to extend or enhance their own life, turning Black men into extensions and enforcers of White middle-class culture. In uniting these texts through the lens of critical Whiteness studies, this article argues that White racial transformation is a long-held tradition in the US Gothic that not only expresses White desires and anxieties, but itself transforms in each specific historical racial context.

Blackface on the South African Stage

In most contemporary studies in which the practice of blackface is discussed, it is seen as a controversial and racist practice. While many studies are available globally on different aspects of this practice (e.g., origin and history, the broad spectrum of media where it is used, different permutations and developments of this practice in various countries, etc.), one finds only a few studies focused on the use and practice of blackface in South African theatre studies. This is surprising when one considers the major role played by race in the general history of South Africa, as well as more specifically within the history of South African theatre. The focus in this article is on the practice and occurrence of blackface on the South African English stage from a historical theatre viewpoint as framed within a postcolonial perspective of this topic. Although one can assert that the practice of blackface was probably simply taken from the origin of this practice in the United States and mainly introduced to South Africa via travelling minstrel troupes from America and travelling theatre companies from the United Kingdom, it is important to see how this practice was received in colonial South Africa. The discussion will first address the use of this practice within early English theatre in South Africa as influenced by the blackface minstrelsy travelling troupes of the 19th century (1830s to 1870s), while the second part of the article will focus on the use of blackface by white actors on the South African stage to portray black characters in the early 20th century (1910 to 1930s).

Exploring low‐income, Black fathers' strengths and barriers to positive change using qualitative methods

AbstractObjectiveThe goal was to explore low‐income, Black fathers' personal strengths and barriers to engaged fatherhood, healthy relationships, and economic stability.BackgroundFatherhood programs often rely on case management and education to promote positive fathering, healthy relationships, and economic stability. However, methods should be tailored to fit the strengths and needs of participating fathers. Low‐income, Black fathers face additional challenges related to systemic discrimination and structural violence that can hinder their success. To effectively serve this group, research is required to understand their relevant strengths and barriers.MethodsSemistructured focus groups explored fathers' personal strengths and barriers specific to the three areas of interest with fatherhood program staff (n = 8) and enrolled fathers (n = 26). Thematic analysis was conducted then systematically vetted by community scholars (previously enrolled or graduated fathers).ResultsFathering strengths included empathy, listening skills, and active family participation. Barriers included limited custody or access, individual constraints, and unmet social needs. Participants contextualized these findings with structural issues related to coparenting and the legal system (e.g., biased court systems). Men's relationship strengths included mutual respect and teamwork. Barriers included past trauma, lack of healthy relationship models, and relationship strain. Economic stability strengths included financial literacy and motivation to provide, whereas barriers included legal history, financial obligations, and limited resources.ConclusionThese findings highlight key individual‐level strengths and barriers grounded in fathers' intersectional identities as predominantly low‐income, Black men.ImplicationsPrograms serving low‐income, Black fathers should consider tailoring their programming to the lived experiences of participants to navigate these critical barriers and amplify assets for success.

A Test of Racial Disparities in Principals’ Disciplinary Decisions in a National Sample

Access to education is important for success as an adult. Exclusionary discipline (e.g., suspensions) reduces opportunities for students to complete their education and be strong candidates for future jobs. Black students face a disproportionately high risk of disciplinary action. Thus, it is important to understand when and how racial disparities in suspensions emerge in order to reduce their disproportionate negative impacts on Black students. Past research found racial disparities emerge after two misbehaviors among teachers and just a single misbehavior among assistant principals. The current research tests the generalizability of racial disparities in discipline from principals across the United States and a psychological process that potentially contributes to the racial disparities: their perception of their professional role relative to that of teachers. In this procedure and with a diverse sample, principals did not endorse significantly different amounts of discipline for Black and White students. We explore potential explanations of these null results in the discussion.

What factors predict anti‐Black bias in pain perception? An internal meta‐analysis across 40 experimental studies

AbstractRacial disparities in pain care affecting Black Americans are mirrored by a similar perceptual bias: perceivers see pain less readily on Black (vs. White) faces. Here, we examine the findings of the initial wave of research on this phenomenon, described herein as anti‐Black bias in pain perception. Specifically, we conducted an internal meta‐analysis across 40 studies conducted in the U.S. with primarily White samples (N = 6252) assessing the generalizability, robustness, and psychological correlates of anti‐Black bias in pain perception. We also assessed the evidence for accounts of this bias focused on intergroup processes, racialized stereotypes and prejudice, dehumanization, and contact. This meta‐analysis strongly confirms our prior findings. Moreover, anti‐Black bias in pain perception is consistently associated with bias in treatment recommendations. These effects are robust to differences in stimuli, samples, and perceiver gender and race. Notably, both Black and White perceivers demonstrate more conservative perceptual thresholds for seeing pain on Black faces, suggesting this bias is not merely a consequence of group membership. Further, increased dehumanization of and decreased intergroup contact with Black individuals predicts biased pain perception and treatment recommendations, though these effects were small. These results demonstrate the robustness of anti‐Black bias in pain perception and establish a strong foundation for future inquiry.

Evidence that pupil dilation and cardiac afferent signalling differentially impact the processing of emotional intensity and racial bias

Interoceptive cardiac arousal signals (e.g., from baroreceptor firing at ventricular systole compared to diastole) have been found to enhance perception of fearful versus neutral faces. They have also been found to amplify racially biased misidentification of tools as weapons when preceded by facial images of Black versus White individuals. Since pupil size is strongly coupled to arousal, we tested if experimental manipulation of pupil size influences fear processing in emotional judgement and racial bias tasks involving measurement of cardiac signals. In a sample of 22 non-clinical participants in an emotional intensity judgement task, pupil size did not affect emotional intensity ratings. Nor did it interact with differential effects of cardiac systole versus diastole on intensity judgements of fearful and neutral faces, replicated here. In a sample of 25 non-clinical participants in a weapons identification task, larger pupil size resulted in faster response times and lower accuracy when identifying tools and weapons. However, pupil size did not interact with weapon versus tool identification, race of prime, or cardiac timing. We nevertheless replicated the observed increase in racially biased misidentification of tools as weapons following Black face primes presented at cardiac systole. Together our findings indicate that pupil dilation does not directly influence the processing of fear cues or perceived threat (as in racial bias) yet affects task performance by decreasing response times and accuracy. These findings contrast with the established effect of cardiac arousal signals on threat processing and may help focus interventions to mitigate related decision errors in high-pressure occupations.

Differential impacts of face masks for threat evaluations of Asian versus Black faces

Wearing face masks to prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses such as COVID-19 has the potential to impact social perception. In the present research, we explore differential consequences of wearing face masks for evaluations of Asian and Black faces. Drawing on theories of prejudice and differing stereotype content for Asian and Black people in the United States, we hypothesized that being depicted wearing a face mask would mitigate evaluations of threat more for Asian faces than for Black faces. Results of a 2 (mask status: face mask vs. no mask) × 3 (face race: Asian vs. Black vs. White) within-subjects design ( n = 365) generally supported hypotheses. Additional analyses using normed ratings of face stimuli from the Chicago Face Database showed that Asian faces showed the greatest increase in threat evaluations compared to norming data. These results highlight the unique impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and related preventative health behavior on prejudice towards members of different racial groups.

Exacerbating inequality over the life-course: examining race differences in the reciprocal effects between incarceration and income

Abstract Relative to Whites, Blacks face lower odds of gaining employment with notable wages while also facing longer terms of incarceration when sent to jail or prison for criminal offenses. Although a variety of factors contribute to these patterns, the time a Black individual spends incarcerated could decrease future earnings, whereas lower earnings could increase the time spent incarcerated. Nevertheless, prior research has yet to consider—or evaluate—the reciprocal association between income and incarceration, limiting our ability to discern how involvement in the criminal justice system contributes to the racial gap in income between Black and Whites. Using the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997, the current study evaluated the influence of time spent incarcerated and income on future time spent incarcerated and income of Blacks and Whites. A lagged Latent Curve Model with Structured Residuals was estimated to examine the between- and within-individual reciprocal effects of months incarcerated and income. The findings suggested that a 1 month increase in time spent incarcerated for Blacks resulted in a 300–600 dollar decrease in income during the subsequent measurement period, an effect that was not observed for Whites. It appears that time spent incarcerated reduces future earnings for justice-involved Blacks. Overall, findings suggest that the criminal justice system contributes to the income gap that exists more generally between Blacks and Whites in the United States.

Eyelash length attractiveness across ethnicities

Eyelashes evolved to protect eyes. An optimum eyelash length functions to protect eyes from external hazards such as contaminations, excessive evaporation or shear stress from airflow. They can also be an indicator of a person's health as various congenital and noncongenital diseases can lead to short or long eyelashes. The current study aimed to extend a recent investigation on the preference for eyelash length in humans from an evolutionary adaptive perspective. Specifically, the current study tested whether the inverted-U function for eyelash length preference recently reported for White faces, generalises to other ethnicities, and whether ethnic background modulates preference for eyelash lengths. To investigate this question, men and women of Asian, Black, and White ethnicities from the U.S. rated the attractiveness of female Indian, Asian, Black, and White faces with varying eyelash lengths. The eyelashes ranged in length from no eyelashes to half the width of an eye. Results showed that Asian, Black, and White men and women preference for eyelash length followed an inverted-U function across all four ethnicities, supporting a general preference for human eyelash length that is approximately one-third the width of an eye. In addition, the results showed that the most attractive eyelashes for Black women were skewed toward a greater eyelash-length to eye-width ratio when compared to the other images. The source of this skew is presently unknown, as it could reflect a change in perceptual sensitivity to eyelash length with skin colour or changes in preference related to perceptions of participants’ ethnicity.

“My Greatness Made a Difference There”: Exploring the High School Experiences of High Achieving Black Girls

Recent studies have provided insight into the schooling experiences and lives of Black girls. These studies highlight the challenges that Black girls face in the school environment including underachievement, disproportionality in school discipline, deficit ideologies, and educator and counselor bias. The current study centers the voices on high achieving Black girls in an effort to center their unique and nuanced experiences in high school. Data was collected using in-depth individual interviews and analyzed using Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis. We found that high achieving Black girls must navigate deficit thinking and negative stereotypes similar to their peers while they also pull strength and resilience from their intersecting identities. Further, high achieving Black girls were tenacious in their pursuits and found familial and teacher relationships to be paramount in their success. These findings support the importance of developing intentional and systemic supports to counter intersectional oppression to meet the needs of high achieving Black girls.

Looking more criminal: It's not so black and white.

Prior research regarding the influence of face structure on character judgments and first impressions reveals that bias for certain face-types is ubiquitous, but these studies primarily used decontextualized White faces for stimuli. Given the disadvantages Black men face in the legal system, this study aimed to investigate whether the criminal face-type presented in the context of crime influenced different legal system-type judgments as a function of perpetrator race. In a mixed-model design, participants saw Black and White computer-generated faces that varied in criminality presented with either violent or nonviolent crime scenarios. At test, participants attempted to identify the original perpetrator from a photo array, along with providing penalty severity judgments for the crime committed. Results indicate that when crimes were violent, participants meted harsher penalties overall to Black faces or to high-criminality faces identified as the perpetrator. Furthermore, for violent crimes, participants were more likely to select a face from the photo array that was higher/equally as high in criminality rating relative to the actual perpetrator when memory failed or when the perpetrator was Black. Overall, the findings suggest that when people are making judgments that could influence another's livelihood, they may rely heavily on facial cues to criminality and the nature of the crime; and this is especially the case for Black faces presented in the context of violent crime. The pattern of results provides further support for the pervasive stereotype of Black men as criminal, even in our racially diverse sample wherein 36% identified as Black.

Ethno-Racial Stratification in the Refinanced Mortgage Market

The mortgage industry is a key component of ethno-racial stratification in wealth and homeownership. Previous research demonstrates that unequal treatment of minorities has created inequality in access and exclusion to low-cost mortgage loans in the housing market. While prior studies have documented the disadvantages Black and Latino home seekers face in obtaining a mortgage, these studies have not considered the obstacles that current homeowners face when seeking to refinance their mortgage. This study draws on annual data from the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) from 2018 to 2019 to assess ethno-racial disparities in refinanced mortgage outcomes by loan purpose. I demonstrate that loan rejections and high-cost loans are highest among Black homeowners seeking to refinance their home, especially when trying to make home improvements or cashing-out equity from their home. In general, Asians and Latinos perform in between Whites and Blacks across mortgage outcomes and loan purpose. These trends are particularly true when examining adverse loan outcomes for applicants seeking a cash-out refinance. Implications for ethno-racial stratification and the wealth gap are discussed.

Racial and Ethnic Diversity in Endovascular Thrombectomy Trials

The burden of acute ischemic stroke varies among racial and ethnic groups. Black adults face a higher incidence of stroke as well as higher rates of mortality. Thrombolytic therapy is under‐utilized in Black adults, and recent data show that endovascular thrombectomy is also under‐utilized for Black and Hispanic adults in the United States. Despite federal initiatives designed to promote the representation of diverse racial and ethnic groups in academic research, Black and Hispanic adults continue to be underrepresented in clinical trials conducted in the United States. Globally, the lack of standardization regarding race and ethnicity reporting makes it challenging to determine the overall diversity of trial enrollment. In this topical review, we provide an overview of racial and ethnic disparities in stroke incidence and clinical care with a focus on endovascular thrombectomy and follow this with a description of diversity reporting in endovascular thrombectomy trials. We conclude with opportunities for and barriers to increasing racial and ethnic diversity in endovascular thrombectomy trials.

The Disparities in the Treatment of African American Women in the Southern Black Baptist Church

Although the backbone of the African American community, the Black Church still engages in discriminatory practices against women. The Black Church was born to help African Americans survive in a world that discriminated against them, and yet it discriminates against its own Black women. This study focuses on the disparities in the treatment of African American women and men in the Southern Black Baptist Church. Based on ethnographic interviews of women who actively hold leadership roles in prominent Southern Black Baptist Churches, I highlight the magnitude of the problem Black women face, and show that the continued discrimination is resulting in many women leaving the Black Church. The Black Church will continue to be the backbone of the African American community, but until the Black Church faces its own issues of gender discrimination, it will not advance.

Irkçılık ve Ayrımcılık Bağlamında Blackface Makyajı ve Mickey Fare Karakteri

Degrading stereotypes of black people, created with the contribution of Blackface make-up in the 19th-century Minstrel shows, also showed themselves in popular cartoons published until the 1990s. Our study investigated the historical origins of the slavery and discrimination processes against black people in the USA and the claims that the design of Mickey Mouse was based on these processes. The subject was carried out with secondary data analysis and the use of existing sources. Animated cartoon films and the design of the characters in them that are about our discussion are analyzed with an iconological methodology. The findings obtained through these comparative studies were evaluated together and innovative results were obtained. Our research; aims to contribute to the understanding of today's USA collective unconscious on this subject, through the slavery and discrimination applied to blacks in the USA in the historical process, and the understanding of various racist sensitivities. With this aspect, the study aims to contribute to other art genres and other related branches of social sciences, as well as address the subject-specific of the art of animation.

Raising Black Daughters: Using Intersectionality and Memorable Messages to Understand Parental Gendered Racial Socialization

ABSTRACT Black women face differences in treatment based on their gender and racial identity. Therefore, scholarship has increased in understanding gendered racial socialization. This paper explains how parents negotiate their memorable messages about Black womanhood with the messages they want their Black daughters to receive. We used the subreddit/r/Blackparents to answer our research questions. Our findings showed the prevalence of memorable messages regarding hair and representational intersectionality. Additionally, we found how parents use their memorable messages to provide advice for anticipatory socialization. We explore how these results allow us to extend theorizing on memorable messages, and supplement work on gendered racial socialization. Results demonstrate the political power of Black parenthood, as well as showcase the dynamic nature of memorable messages.

“They Do Us Wrong”: Bringing Together Black Adolescent Girls’ Voices on School Staff’s Differential Treatment

During adolescence, Black girls face the developmental task of achieving a positive identity while developing skills to navigate hostile contexts, including schools. This study brings together quotes on student-staff interactions extracted during a qualitative meta-synthesis ( n = 64 quotes) to discuss how Black adolescent girls interpreted being treated differently by staff. Black adolescent girls described differential treatment occurring because of one’s (a) race such as Black students being treated less humanely and punished more severely; (b) gender such as staff inadequately responding to sexual harassment; (c) intersection of race and gender such as staff inequitably applying the dress code; and (d) perception of the individual such as staff viewing one as a “bad” student. It appeared that differential treatment largely rooted in their perceived racialized/gendered identity negatively impacted Black girls and simultaneously provided little recourse for addressing differential treatment, likely undermining their sense of school belonging. This study brings together the voices of Black adolescent girls published across articles to focus specifically on the process of differential treatment within student-staff relationships.