Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

From Spitting Rhymes To Inspiring Minds : The Role Of Hip Hop Therapy In Treatment Engagement Amongst Latinx And Black Youth : A Project Based Upon An Investigation At Beats. Rhymes And Life, Tatiana R. Padilla

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

The purpose of this study was to explore the implications of utilizing an innovative cultural framework to engage at-promise youth in clinical group work. This researcher collaborated with Beats, Rhymes and Life, an Oakland based organization that has effectively engaged youth at-promise through Therapeutic Activity Groups (TAGs). Treatment effectiveness is evident in the continued requests from mental health providers in community mental health clinics to partner with BRL’s TAG program, youth self-referrals, and youth requests to repeat the program. Based on this, the current study aims to understand what aspects of the TAGs promote treatment engagement- indicated by re-enrollment- for …

Maintaining Community Roots : Understanding Gentrification Through The Eyes Of Long-Standing African American Residents In West Oakland, Karessa Irvin

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

The study was undertaken to understand how long-standing African Americans residents of West Oakland believe they can maintain community roots during processes of gentrification. A second major question was: What are the implications for community based social workers.

Snowball sampling and convenience sampling were the methods used to recruit participants for the study. Thirteen in-person interviews were conducted, regarding study contributors’ perceptions of the West Oakland neighborhood, neighborhood changes, and understanding of community roots and how to maintain them.

The major findings of the study were congruent with some previous research of gentrification as participants defined gentrification in terms of …

How I Got Over : Young African American Men Tell The Story Of How They Achieved Academic Success : A Descriptive Study, Rebecca M.C. Ramer

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

African American males fall behind their White counterparts in almost every measure of academic success. College completion rates for Black males are the lowest among all racial/ethnic groups in the United States. This exploratory study interviewed 13 African American men who were currently enrolled in college or who had graduated college. The goal of the study was to identify factors that these successful men identified as having contributed to their academic achievement. Thirteen men between the ages of 18 and 40 who identify as African American participated in semi-structured interviews that were recorded and then analyzed using a grounded theory …

"Black Is, Black Ain't" : A Theoretical Exploration Of The Impact Of Systemic Racism On African American Adolescent Identity Development, Janae A. Peters

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This theoretical thesis explores the impact of systemic racism on the African American adolescent's ability to secure a cohesive and positive identity. Working from a symbolic interactionist frame influenced by critical race theory and social identity theory, this thesis explores the unique challenges African Americans face in this critical identity development process and seeks to explore explanations for the role of racism as an institutionalized system that hinders healthy development. This thesis aims to examine how the messages received by African Americans in all systems--ranging from schools to health services--privilege the dominant perspective and ideology and negatively impact racial identity …

Social And Academic Experiences Of Aagbm Who Graduate From Hbcus, Isaiah L. Jones

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This qualitative study explores the social and academic experiences of African American gay and bisexual men (AAGBM) who graduated from historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) from 2008 – 2013; and strives to answer the question: What are the social and academic experience(s) of AAGBM who attended HBCUs? The study's specific aims were to describe: (1) How AAGBM describe their social and academic experiences, positively or negatively, on an HBCU campus; and (2) How HBCUs can help facilitate satisfying social and academic experiences for its AAGBM. These aims were addressed by asking seven open-ended questions to ten (10) AAGBM who …

Defining Suffering : African American Young Men And Conduct Disorder, Sascha D. Atkins-Loria

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This paper will discuss the disproportionate overrepresentation of African American young men among those diagnosed with Conduct Disorder. Existing research attributes this disproportionality to a variety of factors but does not incorporate historical or social analysis. This project will endeavor to consider how the historical and enduring stereotype of black men as "criminal" impacts this diagnosing pattern, and explores alternate ways to define and treat behavioral symptomology among young black men. This paper will discuss how stereotypes as well as the fear of being stereotyped impact both client and clinician and affect their interaction, thereby influencing psychological assessment and diagnosis. …

We Need A Good War : Factors That Influence The Experience Of Racism In The United States Military, Sarah E. Chotkowski

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

The purpose of the quantitative study was to explore the experience of racism in the United States military in the context of the historical evolution of racial integration policies. The present study aims to clarify how factors such as race, era of service, exposure to combat, rank and gender influence the experience of racism. A total of 112 veterans completed a survey online or in person through their local American Legion, VFW, or student center. The survey was a 22-item measure with six demographic questions and 14 Likert scale questions designed to solicit feedback about a wide range of experiences. …

The Long Term Effects Of Racial Socialization Of African American Sons Through Communication Patterns From Their Mothers, Jacqueline A. Johnson

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This study explored the long-term effects of racial socialization patterns from African American mothers to their sons to discover whether they are enhancing or impeding the wellbeing the African American males. While several distinct socialization types emerge throughout the literature with egalitarian, and barrier socialization messages predominating, the measures have focused primarily on the effects of racial socialization on academic performance. This qualitative study attempted to illuminate a gap in the literature: the long-term effects of mother to son racial socialization messages as evidenced by the limited research examining the later life experiences of adult African American men. The results …

The Perceived Role Of Biological Father Contact In The Self-Estem Development Of Young African American Women : An Exploratory Study, Kendra R. Archer

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This qualitative study was designed to explore how young self-identified women of African American and African descent describe the connection between their father-daughter relationships and their self-esteem development. This exploratory study presents findings and narratives from the perspectives of 14 self-identified women of African American and African descent between the ages of 22- 30 who had face-to face contact with their biological fathers for at least five years throughout their lives. It was expected that the African American women in this study would speak to their experiences of paternal love or rejection in ways, which were tied positively or negatively …

Black Students' Classroom Silence In Predominantly White Institutions Of Higher Education, Mahajoy A. Laufer

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This qualitative study explored Black students' silence in classrooms at predominantly white institutions (PWIs) of higher education in the northeast United States. Fifteen student interviews revealed that teaching material centered on European-American culture and history influenced their silence. Participants perceived devaluing of people of color in course material and perceived that professors used and allowed racist language and opinions to pervade the classroom. Students negotiated the tension of having discordant views from the mainstream and at times, between other students of the same racial and cultural group. They often elected to speak out against perceived discrimination and remained silent in …

What Triple Jeopardy? : Clinical Implications For Working With African American Queer Women : A Project Based Upon An Independent Investigation, Tharyn Giovanni Grant

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This theoretical study explores the impact on multiple identities on African American queer women's mental health. Its purpose is to understand how intersectionality and relational-cultural theory can inform therapeutic treatment by addressing these issues in clinical social work practice. This study is a review of an extensive range of psychosocial literature that employs multiculturalism, feminist, relational, and psychodynamic practices with people of color in order to understand issues of race, class, gender, and sexuality at the micro individual level—and the related power systems of racism, classism, sexism, and heterosexism at the macro sociocultural level. Through the examination of this literature, …

No Chance To Explain : The Utility Of Attachment Theory When Working With African American Teen Mothers : A Project Based Upon An Independent Investigation, Amy Bauman

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

In this cross-sectional qualitative study the intersection of race and sexual orientation in the family planning process of interracial queer women-identified (IQW) couples was examined. For total participants N = 13. Themes included the affirmative nature of the intentionality of the family planning process for IQW couples as well as the difficulties of assisted conception. Participants spoke to their relationship to their family of origin and their fears and visions regarding their own family formation, related to genetic heritage, language, and traditions. Support systems offered by family of choice and social networks were discussed, specifically the need for community mirroring …

Identity Development Among Black Gay Men : The Relationship Between Racial And Sexual Orientation Identity Development, Sandra Lauren Dipillo

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This study examined the relationship between racial and sexual orientation identity development among Black gay men. Preliminary research implied that the relationship between these two processes was complex though there was little research that explored it. Fifty-seven Black gay men participated in an anonymous online survey which asked a range of questions about racial and sexual orientation identity as well as the experience of being both Black and gay. Findings indicated that Black gay men experience more internalized homophobia and racism than individuals who are Black or gay but not both. The results also implied that the two developmental processes …