African American Women, African American Men

Dating back to African practices, African American family roles tend to be more egalitarian than those in the White patriarchy, where women’s roles were limited to childbearing and homemaking . African American women are likely to work for the family’s sustenance as well as function in an equal or dominant parenting role.

Couples counseling often occurs because of child focused concerns . Also, African American women have been noted to stay in a dysfunctional relationship because of a reluctance to add further distress to the burdened lives of African American men . This reluctance to take care of themselves out of deference to “their men” can be very frustrating for counselors working with African American women.

Language

For an interviewer unaccustomed to street talk, or Black English, a client using such can be a challenge to understand. However, we do not see this issue as qualitatively different from any other bilingual challenge. Some African Americans speak perfect Standard American English and can switch to nearly indecipherable Black English at will. Some White Americans can do the same. However, it is unlikely that most White counselors easily understand street talk or Black English. You simply need to acknowledge your inability to understand and ask for help. The important 380 Interviewing Special Populationsthing to remember is that it is the interviewer’s language de?cit, not the languagespeaker’s problem. A polite attitude with a bit of a sense of humor goes a long way toward bridging language barriers that might exist.

Issues of Assumptions

There are approximately 30.8 million Americans of African descent . They make up the largest non White cultural group in the United States.