Identities and inequalities: an examination of the role of racial identity in the formation of social capital inside a voluntary youth organization

Abstract

This ethnographic study provides empirical illustrations of patterns of racial homophily and network ties within a voluntary youth association. The paper seeks to examine the role of racial identity and its relationship to the formation of social capital among a diverse group of youth participants. Drawing on narrative data, this article explores the kinds of organizational experiences that promote the development of interracial ties as well as how the construction of racial identity influences network formation and enhances social capital. The major findings are that racial homophily (staying within one's own group) are strongest among white participants while blacks are equally likely to form interracial ties with socially dissimilar peers as with socially similar peers. Some gendered and class differences also emerged. Institutional agents were also found to be important in helping youth participants bridge racial barriers.

Keywords:

• voluntary associations
• interracial ties
• racial identity
• social capital formation

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank Daniel Cornfield and Tony Brown for their helpful comments on an earlier draft of this manuscript. In addition, we thank Leslie Collins, Nakia Collins, and two anonymous reviewers for helpful advice and comments. This work was supported by a fellowship from the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNS).

Notes

1. BBLA is a pseudonym for an organization funded and supported by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNS) established in 1993. CNS is an independent agency created to administer grants to most of the major federally funded volunteer community service programs.