Development and Initial Validation of the Racial Allyship Characteristics Scale (RACS)

Abstract

Research on the effectiveness of racial allyship is lacking, potentially due to limited availability of allyship scales. To address this gap, the present series of studies introduces the development of the 25-item Racial Allyship Characteristics Scale (RACS), a self-report measure derived from research on people of Color’s experiences with white allies. Exploratory factor analysis of RACS items with 268 white college students identified three factors: Anti-Racist Action and Skills, Critical Awareness, and Interpersonal Trust Building. The three-factor model was then supported with an additional sample of white students (N = 290). Construct validity was supported through positive associations with anti-racist behaviors and inverse associations with color-evasive racial attitudes. Finally, the RACS demonstrated mixed findings for temporal stability. Overall, our results indicate that the RACS demonstrates good reliability and validity as a tool for assessing racial allyship, with meaningful implications for self-assessment and interventions aimed at promoting allyship behaviors.

Keywords

racial allyship white allies anti-racism measurement invariance scale development

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