The territory ahead for multicultural competence: The "Spinning" of racism

Multicultural competence has become a mainstay within the training of professional psychologists, yet important areas within this framework remain to be more fully addressed. In particular, the dynamics of contemporary forms of racism have largely gone unexplored, depriving psychologists of clear direction in exploring the deepest levels of racist influences in their work. This qualitative analysis sought to shed light into this area by studying White people's experiences of race and racism. Although most affirmed the existence of racism, it was "spun" by most White participants-in other words, interpreted to their own advantage-into a problem that lies outside the scope of their own lives and responsibilities. Implications and resources for the practice and training of professional psychologists are presented.