Abstract
Black Americans have historically been excluded from societal associations and faced wavering instability in their households, forcing them to work together for their individual and collective well-being. In past research, more than half of Black American students enrolled in school opted to pursue social or educational careers. Findings suggest that Black Americans’ occupational development is influenced by their family and community ties. In this conceptual paper, the foundation of the development of identity in African American culture is presented, as it relates to occupational decision-making. First, we discuss the influences of general identity development on occupational decision-making. Second, we argue that Black cultural identity is multidimensional, with strong community and family factors that play a special role in occupational choice. Third, we suggest future research paradigms to link racial identity, culture, and occupational choice among Black American students. By exploring the fundamental beliefs of Black cultural identity, and how they buffer against each other, Black American students will be better able to make occupational decisions.
Highlights
Identity plays a significant role in the foundation of an individual’s occupational development, especially for young adults
Findings from this study drew attention to the influence of familial and community ties on Black Americans’ occupational development, and yet, there is a significant lack of research continuing the exploration of the theory
We explain how Black identity is multidimensional, how it distinctly contributes to occupational decisions, and review the literature demonstrating how Black American concepts of community and family aid in self-efficacy decision making
Summary
Identity plays a significant role in the foundation of an individual’s occupational development, especially for young adults. An occupation is defined as having clarity in a direction of interest, one’s capabilities, and one’s aspirations [3] Throughout adulthood, this development is about occupational achievement, and the establishment of a continuous structure [3]. Findings from this study drew attention to the influence of familial and community ties on Black Americans’ occupational development, and yet, there is a significant lack of research continuing the exploration of the theory. We explain how Black identity is multidimensional, how it distinctly contributes to occupational decisions, and review the literature demonstrating how Black American concepts of community and family aid in self-efficacy decision making. We suggest a few strategies to investigate how Black identity, community, and family could be studied holistically when considering the occupational decisions of Black Americans, in light of their experienced history of race-based social exclusion
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