Activating Controlling Images in the Racialized Interaction Order: Black Middle-Class Interactions and the Creativity of Racist Action
Accepted version
Peer-reviewed
Repository URI
Repository DOI
Change log
Authors
Meghji, A https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8311-3155
Abstract
jats:pThis paper investigates the link between the racial hierarchy and the racialized interaction order, questioning how controlling images of blackness are mediated in interactions. I explore this through interviews with thirty‐two black British middle‐class individuals, examining their interactions in the professional workplace. I argue that white people often draw on a practical knowledge of “white ignorance” to activate controlling images in their interactions with black professionals. This white ignorance allows for white people to find creative ways to irrationally deploy controlling images, and to adapt controlling images to specific interactional settings.</jats:p>
Description
Keywords
black middle-class, critical race theory, interactionism, pragmatism, whiteness
Journal Title
Symbolic Interaction
Conference Name
Journal ISSN
0195-6086
1533-8665
1533-8665
Volume Title
42
Publisher
Wiley