Two stepwise multiple regression analyses were performed on the African self-consciousness (ASC) Scale scores of 219 African-American male and female college students utilizing 36 background and 20 Africentric activity factors as the predictor variables. The results revealed that only a very small number of the two sets of predictors were significantly related to the ASC scores. The background factors of parental membership in predominantly Black organizations, exposure to Black studies courses, and prior experiences with racism/racial prejudice significantly predicted ASC scores and accounted for some 34% of the total variance. The activity factors of attending African cultural activities, reading books about Blacks/ African culture, and giving aid/assistance to other Blacks all during the preceding year predicted ASC scores. This latter group of findings, however, accounted for such a nominal portion of the total variance that they must be considered inconclusive. It was concluded that these findings point toward a potentially promising area of African self-consciousness research, but more rigorous and systematic approaches to measurement development in particular, as well as sampling are needed to enhance this general area of prediction.

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Over the past twelve years a number of valuable and revealing studies have addressed service utilization and employment issues pertinent to minorities with disabilities. Research conducted by Atkins (1980) and Belgrave and Walker (1991a; 1991b) provides considerable evidence that utilization and successful completion of rehabilitation programs by minority persons, especially African Americans, is often associated with factors such as (1) attitude toward disability, (2) attitude toward self, and (3) perceptions and expectations of the rehabilitation process. Attitude toward disability has also been linked to employment in a study by Jenkins and Amos (1983) where it was reported that subjects considered their disability as a barrier. There were also implications in this study that attitudes toward their disability might also influence the extent to which the subjects would manifest a desire to work. There is a need, however, for more systematic study of psychosocial variables that may be uniquely operable among African Americans with disabilities. The more we understand these dynamics the more we can equitably adapt our efforts in the interest of enabling all clients to become more independent and self-sufficient. This information is especially critical for African Americans since it has been reported that among those of working age, one in seven have disabilities (Bowe, 1983).

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