Abstract

The continued significance of Derrick Bell’s theory of racial realism is exemplified by the exclusionary sociopolitical and institutional climate that Latinx students experienced throughout the Trump presidency. I utilize various tenets from CRT and LatCrit as analytical and methodological tools for conducting a qualitative study at four colleges and universities in Southern California that explores how the Trump presidency influenced Latinx students’ “sense of belonging” on college campuses and within the broader U.S. The findings reveal how the Trump presidency influenced the lives of Latinx students in interpersonal and superstructural ways. However, I problematize the concept of “sense of belonging” within the context of racial realism by arguing that it is counterproductive to cultivate a sense of belonging within an endemically racist society and/or higher education institution. I provide pragmatic and theoretical implications for how higher education professionals can utilize racial realism as an intervention for research and praxis.

摘要

德里克·贝尔种族现实主义理论的延续意义拉丁裔学生在整个特朗普总统任期内所经历的排他性社会政治和制度氛围就是例证。我利用 CRT 和 LatCrit 的各种原则作为分析和方法工具，在南加州的四所学院和大学进行定性研究，探讨特朗普总统任期如何影响拉丁裔学生在大学校园和更广泛的美国境内的“归属感”。调查结果揭示了特朗普总统任期如何以人际关系和上层建筑的方式影响拉丁裔学生的生活。然而，我认为在种族现实主义的背景下培养归属感会适得其反，从而对种族现实主义背景下的“归属感”概念提出问题。