Helms 1990: Racial Identity Theory

Helms’ (1990) Racial identity theory, is defined as a sense of group or collective identity based on one’s perception that he or she shares a common racial heritage with a particular racial group (Bagley & Copeland, 1994). While race encompasses a common heritage with a specific group, there a many races that utilize this theory to identify special characteristics about their racial group which desire greater understanding and examination. Critical Race Theory (CRT), places race at the center of analysis and assumes racism is omnipresent, even if it isn’t recognized as such (Quaye, 2013). CRT emphasizes the biological and socially constructed significance of race. Cross’ Nigrescence Theory (1995) is an example of a specific theory designed …show more content…
Ritchey (2015) shares that individuals in this stage often do not realize the extent to which they have been reared by White ideologies (p.102). The Encounter stage is a period of interruption for someone’s self-identity. Encounter is a two-step process: first, individuals must experience the encounter: an event, dialogue, experience, etc., and second, they must personalize it (Cross, 1995). The significance of this stage is the importance of the encounter being personal. The event may create initial responses of confusion, alarm and even depression (Cross, 1995). Immersion- Emersion is a dualistic stage and is representative of psychological Nigrescence (Ritchey, 2015). During the first phase of Immersion-Emersion, a person immerses themselves into the world of Blackness. And through their newfound immersion into African American culture, individuals then develop anew. They become capable of managing their emotions and recognition of their identity, along with the ability to associate their identity with role models or individuals whom they support (Cross, 1995). Internalization is the concept that the individual has now accepted and internalized their Blackness. The Internalization stage is not without challenge, as this stage may involve internal conflicts and challenges associated with the new identity (Ritchey, 2015). Black identity in this stage serves to “fulfill the self-protection, social anchorage and bridging needs of the individual” (Ritchey, 2015, p. 103). Internalization-Commitment is the final stage of Nigresence, which merges the understanding of commitment to the newly shaped identity. In this stage, individuals may choose to focus on long term assistance in supporting Black people, and being firm in their Blackness (Cross, 1995). This stage is the continual summary of a person’s achievement of a healthy racial identity