EFFECTS OF DESEGREGATION ON RACE-RELATIONS AND SELF-ESTEEM

Examined the effects of desegregation on the interethnic attitudes, interethnic contact, and self-esteem of 309 Blacks, 487 Mexican-Americans, and 528 Whites. Predesegregation Ss were 5th- and 6th-graders at segregated and naturally integrated elementary schools. Postdesegregation Ss were 6th graders from both types of backgrounds who were attending desegregated schools. The attitude and contact data demonstrate that all 3 groups were highly ethnocentric. Whites and Blacks from segregated backgrounds had more negative attitudes toward both out-group and in-group members after desegregation than before. Desegregation had little effect on interethnic contact or self-esteem. (42 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved). © 1978 American Psychological Association.