An Afro‐American perspective on interethnic communication

Abstract

This paper reports the results of four studies examining how Afro‐Americans perceive interethnic communication with whites. Using an interpretive, cultural perspective, Afro‐American descriptions of satisfying and dissatisfying conversations were obtained through open‐ended questionnaires and interviews. Qualitative and quantitative analyses identified 7 issues Afro‐Americans perceive as salient to their interethnic communication satisfaction: negative stereotyping, acceptance, expressiveness, authenticity, understanding, goal attainment, and powerlessness. This analysis also identified 5 conversational improvement strategies (assertiveness, open‐mindedness, avoidance, interaction management, other‐orientation) Afro‐Americans believe that they or their conversational partner can use to improve the quality of communication. These issues and improvement strategies are taken to reflect an implicit, Afro‐American theory of communication which is independent of age, sex, family income, geography, and ethnic identity.