The association of black sociologists: A descriptive account from an “insider”

Abstract

This is a briefcase study of one particular black professional group, the Asso ciation of Black Sociologists. Even here, however, it is limited in its temporal focus to 1976 and earlier, the years when the organization was called the Cau cus of Black Sociologists (CBS). One of the reasons encouraging this type of study is due to the overall professional and social importance of such a group as well as growing difficulty in obtaining relevant data with the passing of time. People's knowledge and records tend to diminish with the passing of time. Very little has been written on the early days of the Caucus of Black Sociolo gists. James E. Blackwell's "Role Behavior in a Corporate Structure: Black Soci ologists in ASA" (1974) is an important and notable exception. Anyone, therefore, desiring to reconstruct the activities, beliefs and accomplishments of CBS must depend on letters, reports, newsletters, programs, conversations (by telephone and in person), documents, and so forth. Such was the case in at tempting to write this article. There is no central depository of CBS archives. This article is shaped also by the author's direct and active participation in CBS as well as studies by him of black sociologists on two different occasions, 1968 and 1981. In the late 1960s black sociologists, as well as many other black professionals within larger professional bodies, perceived the necessity of organizing to achieve recognition and enhance opportunities. Tilman C. Cothran provided the initial leadership within the American Sociological Association (ASA). Dis mayed at the absence of black participation in the annual programs of ASA, Dr.