African American Theory researches how much race is included in the story and how African Americans are constructed to be separated from white people, most likely due to white privilege, advantages held by members of a dominant race. Theorist who investigate this subject look at the class, gender and traditions of both races and determine the more powerful based on that. This can be hard sometimes for the author can be forced to write their stories with a double-consciousness, or two different cultures that are polar opposites. Authors could change the way people of different races speak, the way characters act and the way a character looks. These are all keys African American theorists can use to find out white privilege is being hidden or revealed to the reader, whether the reader wanted to or not. However just like in any societal issue there can be limits to how far a person can go. This is why African American theorists search for those to. African American history also needs to be viewed by the reader to determine the historical importance and therefore understand the possible reason the writer may have wrote it. African American Theorist work together to determine signs of white privilege as well as systemic racism, a belief that the power and success obtained in society is dependent on race.

Well known tenets of African American Theorist  are Richard Delgago and Jean Stefancic, who both believed racism occurs everyday and that white people don’t notice. They believe there are also some forms of racism used by dominant races to solve issues they hold and they have the ability to determine what makes them a different race. However they know race is also know that race is constructed by society in order to determine class and power levels in society and those who experience racism are able to better handle it.