School and Community Politics: Issues, Concerns, and Implications When Conducting Research in African-American Communities

Abstract

Since the public exposure of the atrocities associated with the Tuskegee experiment, organizations in the African-American community have become more politically involved in and sophisticated about the agendas of outside researchers and the policy implications of these studies for their residents and communities. Community organizations are now requiring accountability from researchers, regardless of race. This chapter discusses the politics of conducting research in these communities and provides several strategies for involving the community as a partner in the research enterprise.

Key Words:

• Drug use
• Methodology
• African American
• Accountability
• Policy