Black Studies

If black men and women, and some white women were--to some extent--successful in forming a coalition to fight some sociopolitical battles much as anti-slavery, civil rights, women's movement, etc., it appears that romantic interracial relationships--particularly between black men and white women--are on the verge of undermining this necessary coalition to "cross the bridge to the twenty-first century." Judging from three perspectives: (1) historical sexual-relations between blacks and whites; (2) the black female audience's attitude toward black man and white woman romance; and (3) media (movies and literature) portrayals of black women's reactions to black men who date or marry white women, this thesis argues that some black women appear to incorporate stereotypical themes in their "objectionable" discourse to black man/white woman romantic relationships. It further argues that these stereotypes appear to support the causes of racism and patriarchy through the pitting; of black women against black men and white women, and undermine black men and women relations, as well as racial unity between black and white women.

Research on the human rib has shown that the sternal end of this bone manifests differences in age, sex and race. It was also found that intercostal variation may affect the expression of these traits. The purpose of this study is to osteometrically analyze intercostal variation and sexual dimorphism in ribs 1-7 from a known sample of American black males (N = 110) and females (N = 52) collected from recent forensic autopsy cases. Results indicate that although intercostal variation is significant, there is too much overlap to metrically determine rib position. Sexual dimorphism is sufficient to develop discriminant function formulae that separate males and females with a minimum accuracy of 75% (rib 1) and a maximum of 83% (rib 4). However, these functions are population and rib specific. This research confirms earlier findings on ribs 3-5, and expands the potential to determine sex from ribs 1-7.

Clinton's success in engendering loyalty in the African-American, despite his failure to deliver socio-economic and political benefits, presents us with an apparent paradox. The contention is that the answer to this paradox could be found in the rhetorical style and strategies habitually employed by Clinton when speaking to African-Americans. What Clinton said to black America is important, but how he said it, is even more so. Through a critical examination of his eight speeches to the Congressional Black Caucus' Annual Dinner, using rhetorical theory, this research examines how Clinton said what he said. In utilizing the critical approach that examines stylistic techniques, it analyzes his rhetorical strategies within the framework of what I term a "rhetoric of inclusion." This concept embraces six rhetorical strategies that enhance identification and authority. Scanned through the prism of these strategies, the research shows that Clinton's rhetoric provided him with a distinct voice that was very effective in ensuring the loyalty of the Congressional Black Caucus.