This article examines how perceptions of racialized hardship connect to attitudes toward redistribution.

Experimental Design:

Using a novel experiment, we test whether claims about colorblind reward systems for hard work hold up under scrutiny. The study directly probes American norms regarding "hard work" in contexts involving race.

Key Findings:">

• Americans overwhelmingly believe that "hard work" is rewarded fairly regardless of race.

• However, when considering deservingness among the poor, racial considerations appear to override these egalitarian ideals.

The results reveal a stark contradiction: While explicitly endorsing colorblind reward principles, respondents implicitly privilege white workers in judgments about deserved outcomes.

Why It Matters:

This research demonstrates how deeply ingrained race biases operate beneath explicit commitments to meritocracy. Our findings suggest that seemingly principled positions on equality can conceal underlying racial preferences when applied to hardship and deservingness.