ORCID

0009-0007-7746-6211

Keywords

Black, Racial Discrimination, Stereotypes, Nigerian immigrants, African Americans

Abstract

This dissertation examines the formation of a shared Black identity among Native Black/African Americans and African immigrants in the United States through an expanded intersectional framework that integrates Social Identity Theory (SIT), Intergroup Contact Theory, and Secondary Marginalization Theory, all under the broader lens of human security. Human security is broadly defined as the protection of individuals from critical threats to their dignity, survival, and livelihood. It is deeply implicated in the experiences of Black communities confronting systemic racism and social exclusion. This study conceptualizes shared identity as a socio-psychological construct and a protective mechanism that enhances group-level resilience and collective agency in the face of structural threats. The theoretical framework combines intergroup contact mechanisms with perceived racial discrimination to examine how shared identity develops within racially grouped but ethnically diverse Black communities. While racial categorization imposes boundaries, positive intra-Black interactions and recognition of common struggles (e.g., anti-Black discrimination) serve as unifying forces that reinforce group cohesion. This work extends Social Identity Theory by demonstrating that shared identity is not static, even within a racially labeled group; it is dynamically negotiated through interethnic experiences, thereby reflecting an intersectional theoretical synthesis. This study employed a mixed-methods design. The quantitative analysis draws on original survey data collected in 2023 from over 600 Native Black/African American respondents via the platform Prolific, and ordered logistic regression was used to assess three dependent variables: Global Black Identity, Pan-Black Identity, and Global Black Solidarity. Predictors included the

perceived quality of interactions with African immigrants and agreement on shared racial discrimination. Qualitative in-depth interviews were conducted with first-, first-and-a-half-, and second-generation Nigerian immigrants. The results show that negative stereotyping and cultural distancing undermine identity formation, reinforcing Secondary Marginalization within Black populations. Yet, racial discrimination from dominant out-groups paradoxically contributes to shared Black identity development. These findings demonstrate how the intersectional forces of race, ethnicity, and immigration status interact to shape identity outcomes. This research contributes to identity scholarship by demonstrating how intra-group ethnic relations and sociopolitical forces jointly influence identity formation and human security. In highlighting both challenges and pathways to unity within the Black diaspora, the study offers critical implications for coalition politics, public policy, and community resilience. Ultimately, tensions between African Americans and African immigrants underscore the need to frame shared Black identity as a strategy for advancing human security in the face of fragmentation and systemic threats.

Completion Date

2025

Semester

Spring

Committee Chair

Kim, Myunghee

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

College

College of Sciences

Department

School of Politics and International Affairs

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

Campus Location

Orlando (Main) Campus

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