• 206-01 - Sorting it Out: African-American Students’ Perception of their Racial and Educational Identity Development
  Presented by: Shuntay McCoy
• (PAPER CANCELLED) 206-02 - Racial Socialization, Gender, and Racial Identity in Black Adolescents
  Presented by: BreAnna Davis, Mia Smith-Bynum, Devin English
• (PAPER CANCELLED) 206-03 - Latino and African American College Students’ Search for Balance
  Presented by: Pearl Stewart, Katia Paz Goldfarb, Jose Rodas
• 206-04 - African American Marital Functioning--the Early Years: The Honeymoon’s Over
  Presented by: Barlynda Bryant, Chalandra Bryant, Kandauda As Wickrama

Abstracts

Sorting it Out: African-American Students’ Perception of their Racial and Educational Identity Development

Presented by: Shuntay McCoy

Much of what is known about the identity development of African American students is captured during the development stage of adolescence and rarely includes the perspectives of emerging adults as they engage in identity exploration. Consequently, this qualitative study explores how African American students perceive their racial and educational identity development during their first year of college. This investigation reveals how African American students perceive salient pre-college family and school socialization to influence their racial and educational identity and how their identity influences their postsecondary academic achievement within the context of a Historically Black University and a Predominately White Institution.

Racial Socialization, Gender, and Racial Identity in Black Adolescents

Presented by: BreAnna Davis, Mia Smith-Bynum, Devin English

The current study examined the role of gender in the relationship between racial socialization and racial identity among 131 African American adolescents (44 % boys, 56% girls). Four dimensions of racial socialization (cultural pride reinforcement, cultural legacy of appreciation, cultural alertness to discrimination, cultural coping with antagonism) were evaluated alongside two dimensions of racial identity (centrality, and private regard). Results revealed that messages focused on cultural pride and alertness to discrimination were both linked to private regard. None of the messages predicted racial centrality. Against expectations, gender did not moderate relationships between racial socialization and racial identity.  

Latino and African American College Students’ Search for Balance

Presented by: Pearl Stewart, Katia Paz Goldfarb, Jose Rodas

Using qualitative methodology, 20 African America and 20 Latino, first-generation college students were interviewed for this study which examines the ways in which African American and Latino first generation college students seek to balance the need to maintain expected family obligations with the expectations of the college environment. Content analyses illuminated the difficulties the students faced as well some strategies utilized to find balance between these sometimes conflicting expectations and aspirations.

African American Marital Functioning--the Early Years: The Honeymoon’s Over

Presented by: Barlynda Bryant, Chalandra Bryant, Kandauda As Wickrama

The present study investigates changes in marital functioning over time among African American newlywed couples by examining trust and racial identity. The study adds to the literature with findings for couples where both the husband and wife have high levels of private regard and centrality, as well as for couples with opposing levels of racial identity. Findings suggest more positive couple interactions occur when both partners have high levels of racial centrality and private regard, compared to couples in which one spouse has high levels of centrality and private regard, but the partner has low levels.