Internalizing Negative Self-Racial/Ethnic Identification: Horizontal Hostility Revealed, the Case of African Americans.

Abstract

This research examines a very important topic in the United States of America, namely, the negative self- racial/ethnic identification among ethnic minorities or the so-called “horizontal hostility.” The research focuses on the African-American category as a case study by providing a comprehensive analysis of the topic through a detailed and in-depth explanation of the prejudices and stereotypes that afflict most minorities in the United States of America, particularly African Americans. The research also attempts to find out the factors that led to the building of negative racial identity for African Americans. More precisely, this dissertation aspires to find out the real reasons that pushed African Americans to become hostile towards each other. After highlighting the phenomenon of horizontal hostility and the reasons that led African Americans to build a tense relationship with each other, this research provides a summary of the role played by the American media in highlighting the phenomenon of horizontal hostility and the ways available to reduce or confront it.