The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between race and the level of understanding between counselor and client. Inter-and intraracial differences in understanding during an initial counseling interview also were investigated. Excerpts of the interview were utilized in stimulated recall sessions, and three trained raters independently evaluated the degree of understanding. Results indicate that race is related to understanding in counseling. Black counselors understood black counselees best, and white counselors understood white counselees best. Overall white counselors understood both white and black counselees better than did black counselors.

Professional literature has lately paid increased attention to the problems facing counselors of Blacks and other minority group members. .Although the source of these problems is not strictly racial, it is becoming increasingly clear that there is dissonance in clientcounselor interactions when the client is Black and the counselor is white. There is considerable disagreement among professionals over the cause and the nature of the dissonance, but they are beginning to recognize and accept that there is a problem. This review of the writings and research efforts of theorists who have attempted to clarify and articulate some of these issues will provide a rationale for recommendations concerning counselor behavior in such situations.Since World War 11, .American society has experienced a great change in its racial relationships and attitudes. One of the salient outcomes of the civil rights movement is that the white population has lost some of its power to dominate race relations. The constant reduction of the proportion of acquiescent Black Americans has resulted in a qualitatively different relationship between whites and Blacks (Thompson 1963). Concurrently, most interactions between whites and Blacks can be conceptualized as a complex interpersonal encounter. In this period scientists, educators, writers, and others have attempted to examine and explain this complex and perplexing Blacwwhite phenomenon. Rohrer (1970) stated that "every great public issue currently engaging the nation is beclouded by NegroIWhite relations. Therefore, resolving relations between Negro and White is perhaps the predominate concern" (p. xvi). Johnson (1966) stated that Blacks should regard with a certain degree of caution efforts by white America to examine the Negro problem. He stated that attempts of white Europeans and their descendants to divide the Negro has taken the form of trying to explain away the Negro. He stated that Negroes were explained away for nearly 100 years by the contention that they were not yet ready for the white culture. Then Negroes were "protected" by courts that said that legally Negroes should be kept separate though equal-second-class citizens. Then came World War 11, the communist conspiracy, the Black nations' fight for freedom from colonialism, and a reexamination of the Christian faith. These Occurrences highSeymour B'ymn is arcociate profimr, Rebabilitation Institute, and Harold Bardo is acrociOte professor, Dtputment of Gudmce, borb at S o u t h Illinois Uniynrity at Carbondale. Tbis artuk is qrinted, witb pM"iaiOn, fm tbe October I971 Journal of Non-White Concerns in Perynnel and Guidance. 68JOURNAL OF EMPLOYMENT COUNSELING

This article presents a n empirical method for assessing attitudes toward Black men. The findings document that race is a significant factor in determining how Black men are perceived by Black and White college students.

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