Session Summary

Session Number:255
Session ID:S471
Session Title:Racio-ethnic Relations and the Forbidden Triad: Challenging Conceptions about Relationships among Minority Groups
Short Title:Racio-Ethnic Relations
Session Type:Division Joint Symposium
Hotel:Hyatt East
Floor:LL2
Room:GndBall F
Time:Wednesday, August 11, 1999 8:30 AM - 10:20 AM

Sponsors

CM  (Laurie Weingart)weingart@cyrus.andrew.cmu.edu (412) 268-7585 
GDO  (Audrey Murrell)amurrell@katz.business.pitt.edu (412) 648-1651 

General People

Chair Proudford, Karen L. Morgan State U. kproudford@morgan.edu (443) 885-3314 
Chair Yang, Elena  Independent Consultant/Educator yangea@earthlink.net (610) 793-3213 
Discussant Jehn, Karen A. U. of Pennsylvania jehnk@wharton.upenn.edu (215) 898-0525 
Discussant ogilvie, dt  Rutgers U. dt.ogilvie@newark.rutgers.edu (973) 353-1288 

Submissions

Colored Lenses: Reciprocal Perceptions of African American and Latino/a Co-workers 
Presenter Davidson, Martin N. U. of Virginia mdav@virginia.edu (804)-924-4483 
Exploring Latino/a Diversity and its Implications for Intergroup Relations in Organizations 
Presenter Ferdman, Bernardo M. California School of Professional Psychology bferdman@cspp.edu (619) 623-2777 ex. 362 
Cross-Race Differences in Network Group Formation 
Presenter Friedman, Ray  Vanderbilt U. Ray.Friedman@owen.vanderbilt.edu 615-322-3992 
Presenter Craig, Kellina M. California State U., Long Beach kcraig@csulb.edu (562) 985-1793 
The Strength of Weak Ties or the Weakness of Strong Ties: The Construction of Social Networks among Minorities 
Presenter Proudford, Karen L. Morgan State U. kproudford@morgan.edu (443) 885-3314 
Presenter Yang, Elena  Independent Consultant/Educator yangea@earthlink.net (610) 793-3213 

Abstract

Organizational researchers are challenged to continually deepen our knowledge of complex, multi-faceted interactions among diverse groups. Though valuable insights are gained by examining a minority group in relation to whites, we have yet to develop and test theories about relationships within and among minority groups. Less studied are the relationships, for example, between and among African-Americans and Asians, Latinos and Native Americans, and the like. Moreover, we have yet to conduct an even more fine-grained analysis of relationships within and among subgroups of the aforementioned minority groups. Therefore, we know little about these relationships beyond their coalition-building efforts aimed at working together to balance power with whites. An increased understanding of these relationships, however, is crucial to deepen our knowledge of racial dynamics in organizations. This session explores relationships among minorities. In doing so, we suspend our notions about the nature of those relationships in order to discover rather than assume the weaknesses and/or strengths that exist in these relationships. Presenters discuss work which addresses relationships between African Americans and Latinos, intra-group (within Latino) diversity and its impact on Latino/a participation in diversity initiatives and coalition-building, factors driving participation in minority networking groups, and the character and nature of minority-to-minority social network ties.