Argues that little of what Michael L. Penn, Stanley O. Gaines, and Layli Phillips (1993) have to say in their article "On the Desirability of Own-Group Preference" about ethnic own-group preference is new and that it is distorted and naive interpretation of social history to carry on the tradition of blaming African Americans for the…

Explores the role of communication in the strategic self-definition of "whiteness." Uses transcripts from two focus group interviews (with Whites from two historically Black universities) to map the discourses of "White" participants concerning the nature of "whiteness." Implies that the space Whites occupy is not clearly constructed and defined…

Uses narratives of five female students of color in an urban high school to describe how students simultaneously participate in, and resist, school. Suggests organizing schools to maximize contact between school personnel and students and notes the importance of listening to students when formulating educational policy and practice. (SLD)

Describes a school-based, Afrocentric program that prepares African American males to use the educational opportunities available to them. Discusses the program's theoretical premises and offers a report on program effectiveness. Looks at cultural issues, methodology, program design, and outlines the importance of this type of program. (RJM)

Reports that the Indian Health Service has identified alcoholism as the most significant health problem affecting American Indian communities. Asserts that education is a key answer to alcoholism--it provides students with a sense of their Indian identity and re-establishes traditional values, beliefs, and practices. (PGS)

It is argued that the O. J. Simpson murder trial reflects impoverished discourse in America about social identity and power, particularly relating to race, gender, and class. The debate over the relevance and centrality of identity divides American society deeply because it is at the heart of the discrepancy between what America wants to be and…

The racial adjustment of Asian American university students (N=188) was assessed to examine the importance of race in their lives. Both racial identity status and reflected appraisals were significantly related to collective self-esteem as one measure of Asian American racial adjustment. Discusses the importance of the counselor's awareness of…

In a racist and culturally diverse society, White counseling students need to learn to recognize their personal racial identity in order to effectively counsel racially diverse clients. The inclusion of awareness, knowledge, and skills around racism and racial identity development in counselor training programs is critical. (Author/EMK)

Attempts to determine the consistency with which students report their ethnic background by comparing two sources of self-reported ethnic data: an application form and an interest inventory. Finds that students do not always select the same ethnicity on different forms. Suggests that inconsistency is aggravated by: (1) phrasing of items; (2)…

Discusses stages of identity development in early childhood, as well as ways teachers can be supportive of that development. Addresses components of identity development in young children, parental preferences, valuing diversity, and curriculum recommendations. Provides suggestions appropriate for children of any racial combination. (SD)

This paper examines the life history narratives of a group of 12 black and white male and female undergraduate students at a historically white Afrikaans medium university, now undergoing its own transformation in post-apartheid South Africa. Conceptualizations of identity and discourse across four elements of context, setting, situated activity…

Based on Chickering's model, differences in self-esteem and identity development among first generation American (FGA) college students and non first-generation American (NFGA) students were examined. FGAs were the first generation born in the U.S. to one or both parents born and raised in another country. All participants responded to the Erwin…

This study examines the life world of school-going adolescent girls in Johannesburg and their construction of identity. It outlines the socio-historical background of concepts relating to identity such as race and culture and their use and misuse in the South African context. In South Africa, race/culture/identity have been historically conflated…

This study seeks to understand the experiences of women of color engineering students who persist and identify some of the dilemmas they face. Evidence emerged that students formulate multiple identities to help them persist in their engineering programs. We assess the role that identity plays in the experiences of STEM (science, technology,…

In this paper I examine the ways that three fifth-grade girls from different socioeconomic backgrounds formed and reformed their racial identities in a diverse urban public school. Although the girls were labeled as "White" by their parents and the school district, none identified as "White." Drawing on data from an ethnographic study of…