Racial self-identification and self-concept by means of unobtrusive measures.

Abstract

Summary The relationship between self-designated racial labeling and indirect assessment of self-esteem was investigated through the use of unobtrusive measures. Archival data were collected from the 1971–1973 tenant files of a low rent public housing authority in the state of Florida, U.S.A. Usable data were obtained from 145 tenants who identified themselves as either black, colored, or Negro. On the basis of univariate and multivariate analysis, it was concluded, as predicted, that tenants who identified themselves as “black” differed from those using the term “Negro” or “colored” on a number of dimensions including age, earned income, employment, and reliance on welfare payments.