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African American Music has always served to document the history of enslaved Africans in America. It takes its roots in African Spirituality and originally pervades all aspects of African life. That Music has been transformed as soon as it got on this side of the Atlantic Ocean in a context of slavery and oppression. As historical documents, African American Music has served African Americans to deal with their experience in America from slavery to freedom. This work studies how Black Spirituals and the Blues have played a tremendous role in building an African American identity and in raising race consciousness in an oppressed people in a perpetual quest for freedom and equal rights in America. / African American Studies

In the US, racial and ethnic minority individuals have higher rates of many psychological and physical health problems than Whites, and the experience of racial discrimination may partially explain these disparate health statistics. Given the harmful nature of discrimination, minority individuals may utilize a number of psychological resources to cope with and diminish the negative impact associated with the experience of discrimination. The current dissertation investigated the impact of modern day, subtle forms of discrimination referred to as microaggressions. Prior research has illustrated that the experience of perceived racism and microaggressions plays an important role in the physical and mental health of ethnic minority individuals. The current study explored subtypes of microaggressions and the rates at which different minority groups experience these microaggressions; the concurrent impact of different microaggressions on psychological health outcomes (i.e., symptoms of anxiety, depression, and substance use); the moderating role of coping strategies (i.e., ethnic identity formation, social support) on the relation between the experience of specific microaggressions and psychological health; potential racial or ethnic differences related to main effects of microaggressions on psychological health; and significant interactions between the potential moderators (i.e., racial identity formation and social support) and the experience of microaggressions. Results of the present study indicate that first, minority individuals report experiencing significantly more microaggressions than non-minority participants. Additionally, the experience of microaggressions varied by minority group identification. Second, the experience of microaggressions was associated with higher rates of problematic alcohol use, as well as symptoms of anxiety and depression. Third, aspects of racial/ethnic identity formation and social support were associated with lower rates of problematic alcohol use (but not anger or anxiety or depressive symptoms) among individuals who experienced microaggressions, suggesting a potential buffering effect of these moderators Finally, some racial differences in the correlation between these moderating variables and microaggression variables were found, which suggests that there are likely racial differences in the way that racial/ethnic identity formation and social support can be protective. Future research is needed to increase understanding of racial and ethnic differences in the protective nature of identity formation, social support, and other potential coping strategies. Clinical implications are discussed. / Psychology

This study was designed to investigate the mathematical identity and achievement of one cohort of underrepresented male youth who participated in a pilot school intervention program in an urban middle school. Using counternarratives and a case study method, the experiences of four traditionally underserved high school students were investigated to explore their emerging mathematical identities. Results revealed the intervention program had very limited effect on the participants' mathematical identity. As engagement is prerequisite to student achievement, this study sought to understand what environmental factors (family, peers, teachers, self) affect student engagement and their developing mathematical identities. To explore the environmental factors, the Research Assessment Package for Schools (Institute for Research Reform in Education, 1998) was used to establish levels of engagement among family, peers, teachers, and self. Results indicated among the four environmental factors, family was most influential in their mathematical identity. Peers ranked second in terms of influence, self-engagement ranked third and teacher engagement ranked in the fourth position. To understand the impacts of race and culture on mathematical identity, the Multidimensional Inventory of Black Identity was administered to explore levels of race (cultural) centrality, and regard (public and private) as well as explore their identities as being members of their respective groups. A cross case analysis was conducted on the four participants to determine the impacts of race (cultural) centrality and regard (public and private) on their mathematical identity. Results revealed each member had a high race (cultural) centrality score and a high private regard score and a moderate public iii regard score. Participants were aware of stereotype and stereotype threat; however, it did not appear to affect mathematical identity. This model integrates racial and/or cultural identity and the engagement of family, peers, teachers and self to better understand the conditions that contribute to the mathematical identity of traditionally underserved young men. / Math & Science Education

This study evaluated clinical and cultural barriers to help seeking to identify which factor best predicted African American undergraduate student initial attitudes towards seeking professional psychological help (ATSPPH-short form). Predictor variables included anticipated utility, emotional openness, cultural mistrust, racial identity development, and stigma. Moderator variables controlled for prior counseling, gender and site. This study built upon prior research by evaluating clinical and cultural factors together and utilizing an information processing model to conceptualize data (Vogel et al., 2006). The focus on African American undergraduate students was based on retention problems for this population (American Council on Education, 2006) and underutilization of counseling by this population despite evidence of links between counseling & college persistence (Alford, 2000; Hamilton, 2006; Kearney, Draper & Barron, 2005; Trippi & Cheatham, 1991; & Wilson, Mason & Ewing, 1997). Sixty seven students from two Northeastern US colleges were surveyed. Direct correlation analysis found nine significant relationships with ATSPPH. Controlled for prior counseling use, anticipated benefit (r = .423, p=.001), Emotional Openness (r = .330, p=.010), and an Assimilationist Ideology of Racial Identity (r = .296, p=.022) were correlated with ATSPPH. Stepwise Multiple Regression found four significant predictors of attitudes, anticipated benefit (F=15.062, p<.001), Private Regard subscale of Racial Identity Development (F=13.845, p<.001), Prior Counseling (F=11.791, p<.001), and Emotional Openness (F=10.485, p<.001). Predictors appeared to match each level of the information processing model, suggesting a complex decision making process. Future research might repeat the model with greater or different populations. / Counseling Psychology

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between white consumption of politically conscious rap music and the political beliefs of white rap music consumers. The guiding research questions included an exploration of why whites with little prior concern about racism consume rap music with politically conscious antiracist messages; if whites who consume this music believe the messages spoken are an accurate depiction of reality; and if a relationship exists between consumption of politically conscious rap music and an individual's political beliefs. Through interviews of white fans at politically conscious rap shows it was found that many individuals do not understand the music they are consuming is political in intent. Individuals highlighted themes that they could identify with, namely the need for unity and love, while ignoring others, such as the need to fight against injustice and racism. While independently individuals may have liberal political beliefs and consume politically conscious rap music, there appears to be no indication that consumption of rap music alters political beliefs. / Master of Science