Article published In: Metaphor and the Social World
Vol. 16:1 (2026) ► pp.1–23

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A corpus-assisted critical metaphor analysis of movement metaphors in university presidents’ responses to anti-black violence

ORCiD logo with link | Oklahoma State University
Published online: 25 November 2025
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/msw.24017.ade
Abstract
This study employs corpus-assisted critical metaphor analysis (CMA) to examine movement metaphors in university presidents’ responses to anti-black violence. With data retrieved from official responses of 25 R1 universities (i.e., universities with high research activity) following the 2020 murder of George Floyd, the study utilized Charteris-Black’s critical metaphor analysis alongside keyword analysis to examine inherent ideological biases that frame institutional responses to systemic racism. The findings revealed that university presidents employ movement metaphors to construct positive self-representation through positionality and allyship, while simultaneously downplaying racist experiences, reinforcing colorblind ideologies, and perpetuating negative stereotypes. This suggests that university presidents prioritize institutional image over meaningful change, highlighting the performative nature of these statements in light of the current anti-DEI development. The study contributes to the scholarship on racial discourse in higher education by demonstrating how metaphors reinforce or challenge power structures and shape institutional narratives on racial justice. Ultimately, it calls for higher education leaders to move beyond symbolic gestures toward substantive commitments to racial equity.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
    • 1.1Critical metaphor analysis
    • 1.2Research questions
    • 1.3Positionality statement
  • 2.Methods
    • 2.1Data and data collection
      • 2.1.1Curation and categorization
      • 2.1.2Randomization
      • 2.1.3Exclusion
    • 2.2Analytical procedure
      • 2.2.1Identification
    • 2.2.2Interpretation
    • 2.2.3Explanation
    • 2.2.4Keyword analysis
  • 3.Findings and discussion
    • 3.1Movement metaphor in university responses to anti-black violence
    • 3.2Directional movement
      • 3.2.1Forward movement/progress
      • 3.2.2Downward/backward movement
    • 3.3Incremental movement
      • 3.3.1Taking steps
      • 3.3.2Upward movement
      • 3.3.3Walking
    • 3.4Experiential movement
      • 3.4.1Solidarity and action
      • 3.4.2Body movements and emotions
  • 4.Conclusion
  • 5.Limitations and future research
  • References
References (23)
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