Date of Award

6-26-2026

Date Published

July 2026

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Political Science

Advisor(s)

Shana Gadarian

Keywords

Journalism Studies;Language;Linguistic Racism;Political Behavior;Political Communication;Race&Media

Subject Categories

Political Science | Social and Behavioral Sciences

Abstract

Black youth have a long history of political engagement yet consistently report the lowest levels of traditional forms of political participation in the entire U.S electorate. While social media has emerged as an alternative political space, structural and linguistic barriers continue to limit their engagement. This dissertation examines whether African American Vernacular English (AAVE) in digital political news media influences the political behavior of young Black Americans. Using a mixed-methods approach that combines a survey experiment and in-depth interviews, this study tests whether political news written in AAVE, compared to Standard American English (SAE), affects political engagement, information retention, and intentions to vote, donate, or contact elected officials among Black youth. This dissertation argues that the dominance of SAE in U.S. news media functions as a structural barrier that marginalizes Black youth and their linguistic identities, contributing to political disengagement. Findings contribute to political communication scholarship by highlighting the role of linguistic inclusion in news media and its impact on the political behavior of marginalized communities.

Access

Open Access

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