Ethnic humor: Funny or offensive?
Race plays an important part in how people respond to jokes about their particular ethnic group, according to Charles Jaret, an associate professor of sociology at Georgia State University. Jaret studies individuals' attitudes and behaviors towards racial humor. He can also discuss racial identity among African-Americans and race relations. Contact Jaret at 404-651-1843 or [email protected].
Whites more tolerant today, except on policy
How have racial attitudes among black and whites evolved over the years? Georgia State researcher Charlotte Steeh, co-author of Racial Attitudes in America: Trends and Interpretation, has answers. Her research involves tracking and analyzing these attitudinal changes from the 1940s to the present. Steeh has found that although the level of white support of racial equality and intermarriage has increased markedly over the years, the number of whites who support policies like affirmative action has remained static - and declined in the case of mandated school integration. Contact Steeh, assistant professor of public administration and urban studies, at 404-651-3539 or [email protected].
Polygamy: An option for African-Americans?
The high rate of imprisonment among African-American males has led to a shortage of eligible partners for black women, says Georgia State researcher Patricia Dixon, an associate professor of African-American studies. Increasing numbers of black women are finding polygamy or "mansharing" to be a viable solution to this problem, says Dixon, who has studied these arrangements as part of her research on African-American male-female relationships. Contact Dixon at 404-651-4882 or [email protected].
Cultural stressors affect African-Americans
Many African-Americans face unique identity problems that come with being part of a cultural minority. Louis Anderson, a professor of psychology at Georgia State,studies the tension that many blacks feel when they interact with those outside their racial group, and can address how this stress affects the health and well being of black individuals. Anderson also heads the Ujima Parenting Program at Georgia State, a support system for black adolescent fathers with young children. Contact Anderson at 404-651-1615 or [email protected].
Older African-Americans may not get needed care
Elderly African-Americans don't use available services for senior citizens as often as other groups, studies show. Researchers at Georgia State University's Gerontology Center say that contributing factors include cultural differences in beliefs about aging and health care, the history of a segregated health care system, and limited advocacy for aging issues in the African-American community. The center also has done extensive research on the experiences of African-Americans in personal care homes. Contacts: Frank Whittington, Gerontology Center director, 404-651-1856 or [email protected]; Sharon King, assistant research professor, 404-463-9314 or [email protected]; Mary Ball, assistant research professor, 404-651-4366 or [email protected].
University Relations contact: Betsy Robertson, 404-655-3572 [email protected]
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