Ananda Collins, PhD
Dr. Collins work lies at the intersection of race, language, and political communication, diving into the rich dynamics of Ebonics, African American Vernacular English (AAVE), and its influence on engaging marginalized groups in political discussions.
At the heart of her work is a very real and critical question: How do we engage apolitical young Black people in meaningful political discussions and actions to create systematic change?
And, more importantly, how can we make politics unapologetically BLACK?
Research Focus
Dr. Collins research focuses on Black political communication, behavior, and mobilization, with a particular focus on Black language (Ebonics, AAVE) and its impact on political engagement of young Black people in the digital space. She also examines Black media, and Black popular culture, and its connection to political behavior.
Additionally, Dr. Collins work delves into digital politics, public opinion, AI ethics, and broader themes in media and politics.
Research Projects
Collins, Ananda "Who You Talkin’ To, Boo? How Black Youth Respond to African American Vernacular English (AAVE) Use in Digital Political News
*Forthcoming*
Abstract:
Since the Obama era, political participation among Black youth has grown, yet their voter turnout remains disproportionately low compared to all other racial demographic groups in the U.S. electorate. One underexamined factor contributing to this issue is political language. Drawing on anti-Black linguistic racism, this article argues that the dominance of Standard American English (SAE) in political news messaging contributes to disengagement by alienating Black youth whose linguistic practices include African American Vernacular English (AAVE).
Utilizing language priming theory, which posits that exposure to ethnic languages activates cultural identity and shared meaning, this study examines whether AAVE in digital political news can increase political engagement, retention, and intentions among Black youth. In a pre-registered survey experiment (n=513), Black youth viewed identical posts written in either AAVE or SAE. Contrary to expectations, those exposed to SAE reported significantly higher engagement, with no differences in retention or intentions.
These findings reveal the boundaries of language priming with racialized languages like AAVE, suggesting its ongoing stigmatization undermines legitimacy in political messaging. This study challenges assumptions about engaging marginalized groups and theorizes conditions under which racialized, delegitimized languages shape political engagement that informs a more inclusive political landscape.
Collins, Ananda "Black Digital Influencers as the New Political Messengers: How Community Voices Compare to Traditional Journalism ”
*Forthcoming*
Abstract:
African American Vernacular English (AAVE) remains understudied as a political communication tool despite its widespread use among Black American communities. Political communication research on ethnic language and political behavior has focused primarily on Spanish-language appeals among Latino communities, yet whether similar dynamics hold for AAVE — a racialized and stigmatized language form — remains largely unaddressed. Drawing on anti-Black linguistic racism, this study argues that the dominance of Standard American English in political news systematically excludes racialized linguistic identities, contributing to the political disengagement of Black audiences, particularly Black youth — a demographic with the lowest political participation rates in the U.S. electorate.
While prior work finds that AAVE's effectiveness in political contexts depends heavily on the messenger, this study argues that racial representation alone is insufficient to explain these effects; rather, it is the cultural proximity of the messenger that drives the language's political effectiveness among Black audiences. Using a replicated survey experiment, this study tests whether political engagement, efficacy, participation intentions, and credibility increase when Black audiences receive political news from a Black content creator using AAVE compared to a Black or white traditional journalist using SAE. Findings advance theory on how racialized language and cultural proximity shape political behavior among underrepresented communities, while offering practical guidance for mobilization strategists and community organizations working to close the political participation gap among Black youth