Pepperdine University Pepperdine Digital Commons Theses and Dissertations 2021 An analysis of internalized racism in art created by Black artists; implications for psychological intervention Mirjam Hatton Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.pepperdine.edu/etd Part of the Psychology Commons Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology AN ANALYSIS OF INTERNALIZED RACISM IN ART CREATED BY BLACK ARTISTS; IMPLICATIONS FOR PSYCHOLOGICAL INTERVENTION A dissertation submitted in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Psychology by Mirjam Hatton April, 2021 Shelly P. Harrell, Ph.D. – Dissertation Chairperson This clinical dissertation, written by Mirjam Hatton under the guidance of a Faculty Committee and approved by its members, has been submitted to and accepted by the Graduate Faculty in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PSYCHOLOGY Doctoral Committee: Shelly P. Harrell, Ph.D., Chairperson Thema Bryant-Davis, Ph.D. Jennifer Brown, Psy.D. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page LIST OF TABLES ......................................................................................................................... vi LIST OF FIGURES ..................................................................................................................... vii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ......................................................................................................... viii VITA .............................................................................................................................................. ix ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................................... xi Chapter 1: Introduction ....................................................................................................................1 Definition of Key Terms ......................................................................................................5 Specific Aims and Objectives ..............................................................................................6 Chapter 2: Literature Review ...........................................................................................................8 Internalized Racism ...........................................................................................................12 Definition and Conceptualization of Internalized Racism .....................................12 Research on Predictors, Correlates, and Effects ....................................................17 Expressions of Internalized Racism .......................................................................23 Visual Art and the African Diaspora .................................................................................24 Evaluation of Art Made by Black Artists ..............................................................29 Themes in African American Art ..........................................................................33 Depiction of Racism and Stereotypes ....................................................................34 Racial Power Differentials and Dynamics .............................................................36 Liberation, Freedom, Survival ...............................................................................36 Internalized Racism in the Art Literature ..........................................................................37 Strategies for Healing from Internalized Racism ...............................................................38 Art Interventions with Black People ..................................................................................46 Synthesis and Critique of the Literature ............................................................................50 Chapter 3: Methods ........................................................................................................................53 Dates of Publications and Databases .................................................................................54 Types of Documents and Keywords ..................................................................................54 Inclusion Criteria for Artists ..............................................................................................55 Selection of Artworks for Analysis ....................................................................................65 Author Reflexivity Statement ............................................................................................69 Chapter 4: Results ..........................................................................................................................73 iv Results of Artwork Selection Process ................................................................................73 Rater Congruence on Emotion ...............................................................................83 Rater Congruence on Internalized Racism Themes ...............................................84 Description and Analysis of Individual Artworks created by Black Artists ......................88 Approach to Critical Analysis ................................................................................88 Stage 1: Description and Evoked Emotion (see Figure 1) .....................................90 Stage 2: Internalized Racism Themes (see Figure 1) .............................................92 Stage 3: Integrative Analysis (see Figure 1) ..........................................................93 Stage 4: Implications for Healing and Interventions (see Figure 1) ......................97 Result Summary of Figure 1 ..................................................................................98 Stage 1: Description and Evoked Emotion (see Figure 2) ...................................100 Stage 2: Internalized Racism Themes (see Figure 2) ...........................................101 Stage 3: Integrative Analysis (see Figure 2) ........................................................101 Stage 4: Implications for Healing and Interventions (see Figure 2) ....................103 Result Summary of Figure 2 ...............................................................................104 Stage 1: Description and Evoked Emotion (see Figure 3) ...................................105 Stage 2: Internalized Racism Themes (see Figure 3) ...........................................106 Stage 3: Integrative Analysis (see Figure 3) ........................................................107 Stage 4: Implications for Healing and Interventions (see Figure 3) ....................111 Result Summary of Figure 3 ..............................................................................113 Stage 1: Description and Evoked Emotion (see Figure 4) ...................................114 Stage 2: Internalized Racism Themes (see Figure 4) ...........................................116 Stage 3: Integrative Analysis (see Figure 4) ........................................................117 Stage 4: Implications for Healing and Interventions (see Figure 4) ................... 121 Result Summary of Figure 4 ................................................................................123 Stage 1: Description and Evoked Emotion (see Figure 5) ...................................124 Stage 2: Internalized Racism Themes (see Figure 5) ...........................................126 Stage 3: Integrative Analysis (see Figure 5) ........................................................126 Stage 4: Implications for Healing and Interventions (see Figure 5) ...................130 Result Summary of Figure 5 ................................................................................131 Stage 1: Description and Evoked Emotion (see Figure 6) ...................................132 Stage 2: Internalized Racism Themes (see Figure 6) ...........................................134 Stage 3: Integrative Analysis (see Figure 6) ........................................................134 Stage 4: Implications for Healing and Interventions (see Figure 6) ....................139 Result Summary of Figure 6 ...............................................................................141 Stage 1: Description and Evoked Emotion (see Figure 7) ...................................142 Stage 2: Internalized Racism Themes (see Figure 7) ...........................................143 Stage 3: Integrative Analysis (see Figure 7) ........................................................144 Stage 4: Implications for Healing and Interventions (see Figure 7) ....................148 Result Summary of Figure 7 ................................................................................149 Stage 1: Description and Evoked Emotion (see Figure 8) ...................................150 Stage 2: Internalized Racism Themes (see Figure 8) ..........................................152 Stage 3: Integrative Analysis (see Figure 8) ........................................................152 Stage 4: Implications for Healing and Interventions (see Figure 8) ....................157 Result Summary of Figure 8 ................................................................................158 Stage 1: Description and Evoked Emotion (see Figure 9) ...................................160 v Stage 2: Internalized Racism Themes (see Figure 9) ...........................................161 Stage 3: Integrative Analysis (see Figure 9) ........................................................161