Diverse representation in entertainment awards and racial inequality beliefs

Abstract

This study examines how heightened racial representation shapes beliefs about the causes of racial inequality. To explore this, it focuses on the unprecedented diverse racial representation in the 2016 Tony Awards, a prominent American entertainment award celebrating excellence in Broadway theater. Leveraging the 2016 General Social Survey data in a quasi-experimental setting, the analysis investigates the change in beliefs among respondents interviewed before and after the Tony Awards. The results indicate that individuals are less likely to perceive discrimination as the primary cause of African Americans’ social disadvantage after the Awards. This effect is heterogeneous across demographic and social groups, particularly impacting white individuals and Republicans. This study suggests that engagement with cultural products high-lighting progress toward diverse racial representation may lead to a temporary underestimation of persistent racial discrimination, even in the presence of enduring inequality.