Obama Honors Fallen Troops
'Tough Love: New Orleans' Swamp Date
Researchers at Michigan State University have just found that those who identify with their race more strongly than others tend to be happier. The study, which is set to appear in the journal Cultural Diversity and Ethic Minority Psychology, is the first empirical study to document such a relationship:
"This is the first empirical study we know of that shows a relationship between racial identity and happiness," said Stevie C.Y. Yap, who is the lead researcher on the project.
While there have been studies linking racial identity to higher self-esteem, none have actually connected it to happiness.
The study surveyed black adults in the state of Michigan. They found that the more the subject identified with being black, or the more important their blackness was to them, the happier they were with life in general.
The authors speculate that it's the subject's feeling of belonging that fuels the connection. Those with a strong black identity feel connected to their race, making them more comfortable with who they are and their overall quality of life. The results are strongest in women.
I remember the cold, difficult nights I had during my many years trying to earn a Ph.D. (which I thought I was never going to get). I felt like a fish out of water, being the only African American in the entire United States to earn a Ph.D. in finance during my year of graduation.
I was surrounded by white males who not only completely misunderstood who I was, but didn't really care to try to learn anything about me. My blackness was not considered an asset to my standing as a doctoral student, but actually a liability that I would be able to overcome with hard work and determination.
I was being invited in to the white male club, and I would remain a member in good standing as long as I promised not to do anything that reminded them that I was an African-American male.
After being frustrated about having to hide who I truly was, I declared a revolution within my own spirit. I realized that as long as I kept trying to be someone else, I'd always be a step behind the people I spent my time emulating.
I figured that there was nothing wrong with being Boyce Watkins and that my best strategy for success was to be the best version of Boyce that I could be. That man is a black man who wants to use his scholarly capability to help his community, and he can't apologize for that.
While sprinting off the "academic plantation" certainly took me out of good standing with the professors who originally supported me, I was able to experience a degree of personal fulfillment unmatched by anything I'd ever done in life.
I met volatility from colleagues at Syracuse University, who wondered why I "wasted my time" doing "unimportant scholarly work," but I was also able to have an impact on my community that I never would have achieved had I continued to submit to academic and cultural imperialism.
At the same time, I've seen colleagues who played the game, let go of who they were and walked away from their black identity only to find themselves depressed, humiliated and even suicidal.
The point in all this? Teaching our kids who they are and reminding them to never let go of their identity is important for their personal development. The old school model of running away from your background must be replaced with models that remind us that black is beautiful, good and something to be proud of. Therefore, even if the rest of the world hates you, at least you will always have love for yourself.
Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition. To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your e-mail, please click here. To follow Dr. Boyce on Facebook, please click here. 
Comments: (38)
Add a comment
By: bob on 3/08/2011 8:54AM
Boyce: A troubled Black man. With a narcissistic view of himself. A black man with contempt for another race which he longs to be part of but cannot change who he is. So while knashing his teeth he condemns his nemisis.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: fuzzy on 3/08/2011 10:11AM
Bob! You love black folks don't you?
Report This
By: paul on 3/08/2011 2:55PM
You have Black Blood in you TOO! Your comments have me LOL! I know you 'WISH' he were the way you BELIEVE he is, right? Duh, he just could not really be right and really, really love himself, just like our POTUS does and shows e-v-e-r-y day?
For your sake and humanity you better be wrong, for if MEN OF COLOR figure out what created the problem... I'd move to the MOON to be on the safe side.
Report This
By: Mrs. Mercedes Benz on 3/08/2011 5:04PM
O.k Bob, so what you're saying is.....
Dr, Boyce is an educated black man, who longs to "fit in" white society, but doesn't have a chance. Therefore, he is angry, and must take out his frustrations onto them.
White society is exaggerated, and it is not superior. As i've stated numerous times, my husband is white. He is a Psychiatrist, with an annual six figure income. I'm also college educated (Senior Forensic Accountant and businesswoman). My income exceeds his. He is head of household, but by no means do we survive on his income alone. I have the pleasure (and means) to travel abroad. Advantageously around the world, and have met some very interesting individuals. I realized that white people feel responsible and enlightened, to uphold this superior act, and it's nauseating. My intellect, poise, mannerisms, and finances mattered, yet confused them. Why? Because they fear a strong black personality (actually they despise it), which makes them inferior. Stereotypically, I was supposed to be this poor, uneducated, loud -mouthed black woman.
Europeans and Africans have this distorted view of blacks, as well as whites or any nationality in America. I've met some beautiful European and African people who i'm friends with today. Once vacating America, my mind has changed about a person's skin color, or how I am viewed by others. Married to a white person is not a privilege, nor does it mean a better way of life. I wish every person, especially my people had the chance to visit places other than America. Some may not find this important, but it was interesting to know what others perceived of my race, than the absolute nonsense spewed on these forums.
Being a Christian, I thank God for the many blessings that he has bestowed upon me. My husband and children are my world. We are of different races, but the Lord has seen fit to make it work. Man may not understand or condone, but he is the one I look to for guidance and approval.
Report This
By: ok on 3/08/2011 7:29PM
bob maybe part of the reason why you're so unhappy is that you're not proud of who you are. a white man who spends too much time on a black website. maybe you need to identify with your own people more.
not only am I proud of being black, I prefer to hang with others who look just me. I prefer to chat with others who look like me online, which is why I come to blackvoices in the first place. thanks dr. watkins for publishing this positive information about blacks which I'm sure will not hit the mainstream media anytime soon
Report This
By: clevemc on 3/08/2011 10:36PM
Bob: A troubled White man. With a narcissistic view of himself. A white man with contempt for another race which he longs to be part of but cannot change who he is. So while knashing his teeth he condemns his nemisis.
Whats good for the Goose, likewise for the Gander.
Report This
By: bob on 3/09/2011 4:21PM
Wow! looks like I hit the nail right on the head. Just like raid I bring out the truth about you racist leader and you all come out of the cupboard. Exceeelant! No I do not love black folk. I like some black folk, just like I like some white folk,brownfolk,yellowfolk, etc. I just don't like any of you black troublemakers.
Report This
By: Greg on 3/10/2011 4:10AM
What, if black people discovered that their Mitochondrial DNA was European, and not African...would they still celebrate their racial identity? More than one third of blacks in there US have European MD. The ones that I know that were tested, and discovered that fact were happier to discover that they weren't in fact Africans! You never know, until you're tested! Skin pigmentation means nothing, so don't think that even if your dark skin that you're even really an African.
Report This
By: Greg on 3/10/2011 4:10AM
Well, in all reality most blacks...even though they'll never care to openly admit the fact that they wish that they weren't black! Especially BW!
Report This
By: franklma on 4/13/2011 9:16AM
This is a really dumb research. As if black people would not be happy if they identified with their own. White people are happy identifying themselves as being white. Sorry, but the plan to totally destroy us 100% as a people didn't work.
Reply to this Comment | Report This