RACIAL DYNAMICS IN CROSS-RACE DEVELOPMENTAL RELATIONSHIPS

Data from qualitative field studies of 22 cross-race (African-American and white) supportive work relationships between pairs of junior and senior people are used to examine how people's strategies for dealing with the issue of race affect the kind of relationship that develops b etween the two and whether the senior person becomes merely a sponsor for the protege, providing him or her with career support such as advo cacy for promotions, feedback, and coaching, or whether the senior per son becomes a mentor, offering psychosocial support and friendship alo ng with instrumental career support. The study showed that the parties ' preferred strategy for dealing with racial difference either denying and suppressing it or discussing it openly-and whether both parties p referred the same strategy influenced the kind of relationship that de veloped. Only when the parties preferred the same strategy did the mor e supportive mentor-protege relationship develop. The paper provides a model of how racial dynamics affect cross-race developmental relation ships.