Ethnic Identity Search and Commitment in Black and White Eighth Graders

Abstract

In order to investigate the beginnings of ethnic identity formation, openended interviews on ethnic issues were carried out with 48 Black and White middle-class eighth graders from an integrated junior high school. Interviews focused on questions assumed from the literature to be indicative of ethnic identity search and commitment. Over a third of the subjects had engaged in ethnic identity search, as indicated by their having thought about and discussed the implications of their ethnic groups membership. Black females were particularly high in ethnic identity search. In discussing the issues of ethnicity, Black subjects generally focused on their own group, while Whites were more likely to address relations with other groups. Both groups recognized the existence of prejudice as a potential problem for Blacks. The findings are discussed in terms of minority versus majority status in the culture.