THE CONTACT HYPOTHESIS AND RACIAL-ATTITUDES AMONG BLACK-AMERICANS

This study uses data from the National Survey of Black Americans (N = 2,107) to explore the relevance of the contact hypothesis for the dist ribution of racial attitudes in the black population. Perhaps the key finding is that interracial friendship is among the strongest predicto rs of blacks' racial attitudes. Childhood and adult interracial contac ts are weakly and inconsistently related to blacks' perceptions of whi tes and white-dominated society. Interracial contact, especially when it occurs early in life, enhances the likelihood that blacks will deve lop close friendships with whites. Several directions for future resea rch are discussed.