Abstract

What does anti-racist community-engaged research look like? To answer this question, we use a Critical Race Theory lens to produce a working definition: Anti-racist community-engaged research decolonizes knowledge production through participation of groups of people affiliated by geographic proximity, special interests, or similar situations working to actively change and/or dismantle the intersectional, interlocking oppressive systems that affect well-being. Against the backdrop of historical trauma in the fields of health and social sciences and continued oppressive practices, we detail how research has been abused as a tool of white supremacy and colonialist violence. We propose that while there is no checklist to determine what is or is not anti-racist community-engaged research, it can be characterized by four principles. Anti-racist community-engaged research is grounded in a socio-ecological perspective, centers intersectionality, is emancipatory, and strives to be decolonial in both research practice and outcomes. We conclude by proposing several reflection questions for researchers aimed at improving anti-racist, community-engaged research practice.