Data from a survey of black high school seniors is used to test two ideas, it is stated: that (1) explanations of lw self-esteem among blacks are based, to a large extent, on the assumption that whites serve as a significant other for blacks, and (2) that this negatively affects their general level of self-esteem. (Author/JM)

The relationship of racial group concepts (racial preference and racial attitudes) to general and specific self-esteem in black children was examined in this study. A secondary purpose of this study was to assess the validity of Nobles' (1973) theory that racial group attitudes influence the black American's concept of "self." The…

The treatment of the Negro in children's literature was examined in 125 books published between 1929-1938 and 420 books published between 1959-1968 to test (1) whether the Negro was mentioned in the literature of one period more than in the other, and (2) whether a difference existed in the degree of racial stereotyping contained in the books of…

This study investigated racial misidentification among children through the manipulation of two independent variables: skin color and physiognomy. Eighty 4- to 6-year-old children enrolled in Head Start Centers made up the sample. Color slides of three dolls each, with each set identical except for color and physiognomy, were used as stimuli…

Reviews the history and content of the Chicago "Defender" from 1905 through 1975 to show how the paper used "race-angled" personality stories to carry out its race-advocacy function and promote a positive image of Blacks. (GW)

The problems faced by nonwhite clients of a predominantly white social service delivery system are examined. A case study of a 17-year-old black girl in a nonblack foster home is presented. Assimilation to the dominant culture to the detriment of cultural heritage may result in loss of identity and a sense of alienation. (Author/BN)

This article discusses how multiracial and multicultural families help children to develop a self identity. The roles parents, teachers and classmates play in responding to this issue are discussed and suggestions for promoting individual development are made. (JL)

E. Franklin Frazier's sociological work laid the cornerstone for research in Black Studies. His analysis of the relationship between social organization and culture, and the effect of racial and cultural subordination on Black intellectuals is explored. Frazier's theme, that the issue of assimilation is the central problem facing Black Americans,…

Discusses the lack of reliable instruments for studying African American behavior and psychological functioning as a technical and philosophical flaw in Western psychology. Surveys the development of Africentric theory-based assessment instruments and presents the African Self-Consciousness Scale, a 42-item personalilty questionnaire designed to…

This study addressed the quality of the racial environment, the "racial climate," that students of color face on predominantly white campuses and the impact this has on student satisfaction and successful academic performance. The second question is that of the role of ethnic or racial identification in students' adjustment to the campus…

This qualitative study drew on the stories and reflections of six Appalachian women of Native American descent to explore their experiences of reconnecting with their lost Native identity. This paper visualizes those experiences in light of the relationships between personal realities and structural influences. Historically, Native identities have…

This book examines how young children learn about race and racism, using data from a study of children in a racially/ethnically diverse day care. Seven chapters examine: (1) "Young Children Learning Racial and Ethnic Matters" (child development theories, research on children's racial/ethnic concepts, alternative perspectives on racial…

This study examined aspects of adolescent identity formation and the socio-cultural context that shapes the self. A sample of 950 eighth-grade students (males and females of both African-American and European American descent) were asked to identify 2 hero figures (one that they know personally and one that they do not know but is famous) and list…

Eighteen black students were asked their perceptions of life on a predominantly white university campus, Syracuse University (New York). Data from interviews were analyzed as well as accounts in the campus newspaper during the 5-year period 1988-1993 and interviews with four administrators who worked with minority students in an academic support…

This meta-analysis seeks to provide a better understanding of the relationship between racial orientation and a person's relationship with social institutions. It explores relationships between racial group orientation and four outcome variables: educational achievement, propensity toward criminal activities, indicators of psychological…