Unequal Descriptions: The Choices and Responses of White and Black Americans to Descriptions of Racial Inequality

How do White Americans choose to describe racial inequality, and how do non-Whites respond to their choices? Results from three experimental studies showed White participants avoided describing racial inequality in terms of the advantages of the dominant group (i.e., a White advantage frame) when with non-Whites (Studies 1-2); White participants who avoided using a White advantage frame were also more likely to desire avoiding conflict with non-White conversational partners (Study 3). In addition, Whites’ intuitions regarding how best to discuss racial inequality with non-Whites were well-founded: African-American participants reacted more positively toward Whites who described racial inequality in terms of the disadvantaged subordinate group (i.e., a minority disadvantage frame) than those who described it in terms of White advantage (Study 4). Implications for dialogue about social inequality and policy attitudes are discussed.