Faculty Publications

Civility And White Institutional Presence: An Exploration Of White Students' Understanding Of Race-Talk At A Traditionally White Institution

Document Type

Article

Keywords

civility, critical communication pedagogy, race, racism, whiteness

Journal/Book/Conference Title

Howard Journal of Communications

Volume

29

Issue

4

First Page

335

Last Page

352

Abstract

In this study, the authors draw upon critical whiteness studies to explore how White students' understanding of race-talk within higher education (re)produces whiteness. Through an analysis of interview data, they generated 3 categories describing whiteness-informed civility (WIC): (a) WIC functions to create a good White identity, (b) WIC functions to erase racial identity, and (c) WIC functions to assert control of space. These thematic concepts show how WIC is characterized by logics of race-evasion, avoidance of race-talk, and exclusion of people of color. The authors conclude by offering ways for instructors to interrogate WIC through classroom practices informed by critical communication pedagogy.

Department

Department of Communication and Media

Original Publication Date

10-2-2018

DOI of published version

10.1080/10646175.2017.1392910

Repository

UNI ScholarWorks, Rod Library, University of Northern Iowa

Language

en

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