Power and resistance: Black Americans' multifaceted perceptions of ingroup strengths and their effects on collective efficacy and resistance

The current research examines perceived ingroup strengths and their relationship with collective efficacy, generalized power, and resistance among Black Americans. Two studies investigated how different perceptions of ingroup strengths (e.g. collective resilience, ingroup solidarity, intergroup coalitions, ingroup resistance, and intergroup respect) were associated with generalized power perceptions, perceived collective efficacy, and resistance behaviours. Study 1 demonstrated that collective resilience, ingroup solidarity, and intergroup coalitions predicted increased collective efficacy, which in turn predicted organized resistance but not everyday resistance. Perceived control over resources and influence predicted generalized power but not resistance behaviours. Study 2 extended these findings by including perceived ingroup resistance and intergroup respect. Ingroup resistance and intergroup respect predicted collective efficacy, which mediated their effects on both organized and everyday resistance. Unlike in Study 1, collective resilience, ingroup solidarity, and intergroup coalitions had no significant effects on collective efficacy in Study 2, though ingroup solidarity directly predicted organized resistance. Generalized power perceptions were linked to lower everyday resistance. These findings highlight the complex interplay between different perceived ingroup strengths and their distinct roles in fostering collective efficacy and resistance against racial oppression.