Black autistic individuals face dual burdens: racial prejudices and biases surrounding autism. Literature often overlooks their unique experiences, creating a gap in understanding how they display autistic traits differently from peers of other races. This study compares Black and White autistic individuals and examines the cultural role in their social and psychological barriers. Participants included 16 Black and 16 White autistic adults from a previous study. A semi-structured interview was conducted asking questions about discrimination, social interactions, and self-identity related to race and neurodivergence. Analysis produced four thematic codes: Belongingness, Interpersonal Dynamics, Negative Psychological Effects, and Identity Formation. Sub-thematic codes were created for each. A Fisher’s exact test revealed significant differences in three areas: cross-group connections (p = .023), lack of cultural community support (p = .001), and restrictive social identity (p = .012). Findings indicate that Black autistic adults are often ostracized from both the Black and autistic communities, leading to invalidated identities. They form better connections outside their social identities but feel confined by cultural expectations that they are pressured to live up to. Further research on other social identities, such as gender and sexual orientation, is needed to expand understanding of autism in diverse cultures.
