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Racial Self-Designation, Racial Identity, and Self-Esteem Revisited

Elizabeth M. Vera

Loyola University Chicago

Kimberly B. Derrickson, MD

Kennedy Krieger Family Center Baltimore

The present study examined the relationships among racial self-designation, racial identity attitudes, self-esteem, and demographic variables in a diverse sample ofM232AfricanAmericans. Reasonsfor particular racial self-designations were explored qualitatively. Results indicated significant differences in prefer-ences for particular racial labels; 41% preferred Black and 30%o preferred African American. A content analysis of reasons for preferences indicated that participants preferring the term Black primarily appeared to have no particular ideological reasonfor choosing that term. However, those participants preferring the term African American indicated reasons related to its symbolic, political, and cultural meaning. Furthermore, preencounter and immersion racial identity attitudes varied significantly, according to racial self-designation. Gender, income level, and educational level were each significantly correlated with various racial identity attitudes. The implications of the results and the limitations of the study are also discussed.

Journal of Black Psychology, Vol. 22, No. 1, 37-52 (1996)
DOI: 10.1177/00957984960221004


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