Present control over racism’s ongoing effects can cause guilt over past slavery
Evidence
But even if individuals recognize that they had no control over the behaviors that actually precipitated a blameworthy event, they might still feel a sense of collective guilt if they feel that the event has continuing negative repercussions that they could control. As illustration, consider that any sense of collective guilt that is experienced by European-Americans in the United States over America’s history of slavery is not likely to stem from feeling that they should have been able to prevent slavery from taking place. However, European-Americans might feel some sense of guilt if they believe that they could influence the ongoing consequences of historical racism on African-Americans today. Thus, individuals are predicted to feel guilty for the wrongful acts carried out by their ingroup to the extent that they think they had some past control over the onset of the event or have some present control over the continuing repercussions of the event. — Nyla R. Branscombe and Bertjan Doosje (eds.), Collective Guilt, 316
Categorization
- XREF: connects to: Exposure to pervasive racism knowledge triggers and sustains White guilt — Janet K. Swim and Deborah L. Miller, White Guilt: Its Antecedents and…, 71; White shame rather than guilt may drive resistance to anti-racism efforts — Janet K. Swim and Deborah L. Miller, White Guilt: Its Antecedents and…, 137; Denial of discrimination may itself result from prior guilt feelings — Janet K. Swim and Deborah L. Miller, White Guilt: Its Antecedents and…, 154
Broader Connections
- Exposure to pervasive racism knowledge triggers and sustains White guilt
#expands(0.88) — Janet K. Swim and Deborah L. Miller, White Guilt, 71 - White shame rather than guilt may drive resistance to anti-racism efforts
#qualifies(0.85) — Janet K. Swim and Deborah L. Miller, White Guilt, 137 - Denial of discrimination may itself result from prior guilt feelings
#complicates(0.80) — Janet K. Swim and Deborah L. Miller, White Guilt, 154