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Abstract

This article explores the construction of Black racial identity attitudes during three stages of the life span. Participants were 476 African Americans between the ages of 14 and 59. Each completed the Racial Identity Attitude Scale-B (RIAS-B) and a demographic survey. A repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed pattern differences across age groups, with the young adulthood stage differing from adolescence and middle adulthood. A correlation analysis revealed that the older the respondents were, the less likely they were to endorse immersion attitudes (strong attachment to Black culture and its expression). Adolescents reported predominantly internalization attitudes (racial expressions of comfort) mirroring almost exactly the middle-adulthood group. Young adults reportedpredominantly encounterattitudes (experiencing a critical incident regarding race). These findings point to the imperative needfor longitudinal racial identity studies and contemporary measurements of racial identity attitudes. Heterogeneity in expression of Black racial identity attitudes is emphasized, andaprocess-oriented approach to multicultural training is recommended.

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Black Racial Identity Attitudes and Stages of the Life Span: An Exploratory Investigation

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