In societies characterized by strong egalitarian norms, overtly prejudicial attitudes and actions may not be the most commonplace driver of persistent racial hierarchies. Our research utilizes the selective embrace of diversity as a case study for how racial inequality can be perpetuated by the co-optation of social change discourse. We integrate social psychological theory and methods with those of education, law, organizational science, and critical studies to examine how the interrelations among ideas, individuals, and institutions create systemic racial (dis)advantage in the U.S. Our approach illuminates how White Americans’ material and psychological interests become institutionalized via legal and organizational decision-making regarding diversity. Our findings demonstrate how dominant group primacy comes to influence even the popular frameworks ostensibly adopted to challenge the status quo.

Sponsored by the Research Institute of CCSRE.