WHEN EXCUSES DONT WORK - THE PERSISTENT INJUSTICE EFFECT AMONG BLACK MANAGERS

In this paper, we examine the underlying dynamics of the differences b etween blacks' and whites' responses to social accounts-explanations o r excuses for negative actions and events. Across four studies we foun d that when black respondents observed unjust behaviors toward a hypot hetical black victim, social accounts had a weak impact on perceptions of injustice, confirming the presence of what we call the ''persisten t injustice effect.'' We also found that social accounts have a weaker impact on perceptions of injustice than on disapproval of the harm-do er and posit that the persistent injustice effect results from a combi nation of in-group identification with the victim and the respondent's personal experiences with injustice. These two factors, we theorize, combine to create greater empathy for the victim.