Perceptions of an ally who confronts racism: The role of displayed emotion and response type

Previous research has demonstrated that when White allies confront racist comments, it reduces future prejudicial behavior in perpetrators, establishes egalitarian norms, and has positive effects for confronters. The current studies sought to examine whether the delivery of the confrontation affects perceptions of these allies. Three studies examined whether emotional expression (angry vs. control, Study 1), response type (direct vs. indirect, Study 2), and the interaction of these factors (Study 3) affected perceptions of White allies. Participants ( N = 740) evaluated a White person in a vignette who confronted a racist comment. Results indicated that confronters who expressed anger were viewed more negatively than those who did not, due to perceptions that they were motivated to make the perpetrator look bad. Direct responses also elicited more positive perceptions of the confronter than indirect responses. These results may inform educational strategies that encourage allies to confront racist remarks.