Communication, Race, and Family: Exploring Communication in Black, White, and Biracial Families

This groundbreaking volume explores how family communication influences the perennial and controversial topic of race. In assembling this collection, editors Thomas J. Socha and Rhunette C. Diggs argue that the hope for managing America's troubles with "race" lies not only with communicating about race at public meetings, in school, and in the media, but also--and more fundamentally--with families communicating constructively about race at home. African-American and European-American family communication researchers come together in this volume to investigate such topics as how Black families communicate to manage the issue of racism; how Black parent-child communication is used to manage the derogation of Black children; the role of television in family communication about race; the similarities and differences between and among communication in Black, White, and biracial couples and families; and how family communication education can contribute to a brighter future for all. With the aim of developing a clearer understanding of the role that family communication plays in society's move toward a multicultural world, this volume provides a crucial examination of how families struggle with issues of ethnic cultural diversity.

Thomas J. Socha (PhD, University of Iowa) is University Professor and Associate Professor of Communication at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. Rhunette C. Diggs (PhD, Ohio State University) is Assistant Professor of Communication at the University of Louisville in Louisville, Kentucky. Bryant K. Alexander (PhD, Southern Illinois University at Carbonbdale) is Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication Studies at California State University, Los Angeles. Molefi Asante is Professor and Chair, Department of African American Studies at Temple University. Jennifer Beigle is a graduate student at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Marianne Dainton is Assistant Professor of Communication at Lasalle University in Philadelphia. Jack L. Daniel is Associate Professor and Vice Provost for Academic Affairs, University of Pittsburgh. Jerlean E. Daniel is Assistant Professor, Program in Child Development and Child Care, School of Social Work, University of Pittsburgh. She is President of the National Association for the Education of Young Children. Roberta A. Davilla (PhD, Ohio University) is an Assistant Professor of Communication Studies at the University of Northern Iowa. Isabel B. Ferguson is an attorney (JD, University of Pennsylvania Law School) and communication researcher (MA, Annenberg School of Communication, University of Pennsylvania) Kathleen Galvin is Professor of Communication and Associate Dean of the School of Communication, Northwestern University. Dr. Galvin published the first and highly successful family communication textbook in the field of communication as well other books, articles, and chapters about family communication, interpersonal communication, and communication education. Dr. Galvin is also a family therapist. H. Paul LeBlanc, III is a doctroal student in Interpersonal Communication in the Department of Speech Communication at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. Mark P. Orbe (PhD, Ohio University) is an Assistant Professor of Speech Communication at Western Michigan University Sheri L. Parks (PhD, University of Massachusetts) is Associate Professor of American Studies and Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies at the University of Maryland in College Park, Maryland.