The role of White identity in anti-racist allyship

Although White allies attempt to support racial justice movements, their behaviors can be interpreted as performative rather than genuine by racially minoritized individuals. In the current work, I discuss how White individuals' personal connection to their racial identity and the power it confers-White identity form-shapes their allyship behaviors. Specifically, moving beyond conceptualizations of White identity as centrality, I call for a study of White identity that incorporates power-relevant ideologies, understanding how White individuals make meaning of their unearned privilege and incorporate it into their self-concept. I suggest that a power-cognizant identity form, which involves personally connecting the self to Whiteness and unearned power, is necessary for White individuals to engage in genuine anti-racist allyship. I discuss White identity measurement issues as well as potential interventions for promoting a power-cognizant identity form.