Departments of African American Studies and Psychology

In this study, I examine whether and to what extent African American college students feel that their status as racial and statistical minorities on campus impacts their racial identity and self-images. I then aim to uncover strategies that students currently employ to maintain a healthy and positive identity and outlook. I asked African American students at a large public university a series of questions in open-ended interviews which allowed them (a) to express whether this type of environment has impacted them, (b) to explain what environmental factors have most affected them, and (c) to describe what strategies they have found effective for coping with their situation. The results indicate that African American students feel that their minority status does affect them, yet they are generally able to maintain positive views of themselves