UMD Theses and Dissertations
Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://hdl.handle.net/1903/3
New submissions to the thesis/dissertation collections are added automatically as they are received from the Graduate School. Currently, the Graduate School deposits all theses and dissertations from a given semester after the official graduation date. This means that there may be up to a 4 month delay in the appearance of a given thesis/dissertation in DRUM.
More information is available at Theses and Dissertations at University of Maryland Libraries.
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Item TONES IN BLACK: A HISTORY OF AFRICAN AMERICAN BASS/BARITONES IN CLASSICAL MUSIC: IN THE ECHOES OF ANCESTORS, A PIONEER’S VOICE(2024) McIlwain-Lightfoot, VaShawn Savoy; Short, Kevin C.; Music; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)This dissertation project has three major foci: a) to trace the history of classically trained African American Bass/Baritone vocalists through performance, recordings, and narrative; b) to recognize the historical performances of African American Bass/Baritone vocal pioneers and the significant contributions they made to the accessibility of opportunities for other African Americans within these voice types; and c) to discuss how Bass/Baritone community performances can promote social connectedness and DEI in opera. In addressing these foci, the paper will emphasize how the performances of Bass/Baritone vocal artists, past and present, have a) made African Americans, in general, more acceptable to White audiences and b) changed the perceptions of White Americans about who African Americans are and what they are capable of. Methodology involved securing physical/digital historical data from newspapers, journals, and books; collecting photos, programs, and articles from the private library of a former University of Maryland professor; conducted oral history interviews of students and progeny of the first African American Baritone to sing with a major opera company in the U.S. (Todd Duncan); delivered community performances domestically and internationally as a current example of the legacy of African American classical vocal artists, specifically Bass/Baritones. This project’s accounting of historical performances can serve to recognize unknown or forgotten contemporaries and predecessors.Item EXPANDING THE HISTORIC NARRATIVE OF AFRICAN AMERICAN WATERMEN IN CHESAPEAKE BAY COMMERCIAL FISHERIES: PRESERVING CULTURAL HERITAGE AND ENSURING FUTURE AFRICAN AMERICAN MARITIME PARTICIPATION THROUGH A SOCIAL-ECOLOGICAL SYSTEMS PERSPECTIVE(2024) Black, Imani; Gray, Dr. Matthew; Shaffer, Dr. Jen; Marine-Estuarine-Environmental Sciences; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)This thesis investigates African Americans' historical and contemporary contributions to the Chesapeake Bay commercial fishing industry, employing a social-ecological system (SES) framework to explore their roles, challenges, and the decline in their participation. Utilizing methods such as oral histories, participant observations, and historical analysis, the research highlights the significant yet underrecognized contributions of African American communities to the maritime heritage of Chesapeake Bay. Through in-depth interviews with African American watermen, historians, and community members, the study examines their achievements, obstacles, and the impacts of ecological and social change on their participation trends. Additionally, it assesses the influence of prominent African American coastal communities on commercial fisheries and discusses strategies for future engagement and adaptation in a rapidly evolving industry. The findings challenge prevailing perceptions of marginal involvement by revealing substantial African American participation across various aspects of the fisheries, emphasizing the importance of acknowledging this legacy and promoting diversity and inclusion for industry sustainability. By showcasing the rich heritage and ongoing excellence of Black maritime traditions in Chesapeake Bay, this thesis underscores the critical need for greater recognition of African American contributions to the Bay’s preservation, restoration, and strong ties to the cultural heritage that have built the coastal communities along its shoreline.Item Mirror Made of Quartz(2024) Drummond, Kassiah Ania; Bertram, Lillian-Yvonne; Weiner, Joshua; English Language and Literature; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)"Mirror Made of Quartz" is a poetic exploration about community divided into four sections that reclaim the displaced emotion of rage with empathy. In the first section "Naming a Better Word for Love", the collection bargains the complexities of expressing love amidst trust and compromise. The next section "(Womb)an", explores how the gift of a name to a daughter, echoes the title of motherhood itself as both are becoming their new roles for the first time. The womb carries legacy, tradition, and trauma. The third section "I Think About Being Black a Lot", dedicates itself to exploring the aspects of the color as an identity, by delving into various culturally impactful folklores, redemption for the unsolved history, and new perspectives to the misunderstood. Finally, the title section, "Mirror Made of Quartz," serves as a supportive reflection of myself by commentating on my name, body, and the person I hope to become with tangible optimism.Item STATE-LEVEL STRUCTURAL RACISM AND ALCOHOL AND TOBACCO USE BEHAVIORS IN A NATIONAL PROBABILITY SAMPLE OF AFRICAN AMERICANS(2023) Woodard, Nathaniel; Knott, Cheryl L; Public and Community Health; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)Structural racism is how society maintains and promotes racial discrimination through established and interconnected systems. Structural racism is a historical driver of health disparities, including those in the area of cancer. One pathway posited for this effect is through the promotion of maladaptive coping behaviors, such as alcohol and tobacco use. This dissertation empirically assessed the association between state-level structural racism and alcohol and tobacco use behaviors among African Americans, including within various subgroups of African Americans based on age, gender, and household income. This project analyzed secondary self-report data collected from a national probability sample of 1,946 African Americans in the Religion and Health in African Americans (RHIAA) Study. Existing measures of state level structural racism were merged into the RHIAA dataset including a composite index of structural racism assessed using five dimensions (i.e., residential segregation, and economic, employment, education, and incarceration disparities). Analyses were performed in SPSS Version 28 using hierarchical linear and logistic regression models. In the first study, two models (Model A and Model B) were constructed for each of four outcomes, frequency of alcohol consumption (measured in days per month), frequency of binge drinking (measured in the number of occurrences per month), smoking status (current smoker or not a current smoker), and smoking frequency (never smoked, former smoker, currently smoke on some days, and currently smoke every day). Model A used the composite structural racism index measure to model the four alcohol and tobacco use measures and Model B analyzed the disaggregated dimensions of structural racism rather than the composite measure. All hierarchical analyses controlled for confounding variables (i.e., participant gender, age, education, income, and employment status). In the second study, analyses using the dimension-level approach in Model B from study one were repeated in subgroups stratified by participant age, gender, and income for the frequency of binge drinking and smoking status behaviors. Statistical comparisons of the slope estimates between corresponding subgroups (e.g., younger and older age) were used to test the moderation effects of age, gender, and income on the association between structural racism and alcohol and tobacco use behaviors. Results from these studies generally indicated a positive association between state level structural racism, especially in the incarceration dimension, and binge drinking and tobacco use behaviors. Stratified analyses generally did not support age, gender, or income as moderating variables of the association between structural racism and binge drinking and tobacco use behaviors. Current findings demonstrate a need for further research on structural racism and health and progress in structural racism measurement, including further emphasis of dimension-level measurement and analysis. Findings from the current dissertation highlight the importance of addressing structural racism, especially in incarceration, to reduce alcohol and tobacco use behaviors among African Americans and help address existing health disparities.Item Therapist Cultural Humility, Black LGB Identity Centrality, and Therapeutic Outcomes in Black LGB Adults.(2023) Teran Hernandez, Manuel; Shin, Richard Q.; Counseling and Personnel Services; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)Black lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) adults experience discrimination at individual and institutional levels (Page et al., 2020) in part due to simultaneous experiences of anti-Black racism and heterosexism. Despite this, Black LGB adults continue to underutilize therapeutic services and also report high rates of premature termination from therapy (Garrett-Walker & Longmire-Avital, 2018). The current study advances the literature by investigating the association between therapist cultural humility, Black LGB centrality, and therapeutic outcomes among Black LGB adults. A sample of Black LGB adults (N = 157) participated in an online survey to respond to measures on demographic information, therapist cultural humility, centrality with their race x sexual orientation (Black LGB centrality), and therapeutic outcomes. Results showed that therapist cultural humility was a significant predictor of therapist satisfaction but not future utilization of counseling services while controlling for age and socioeconomic status among Black LGB adults. The analyses found that Black LGB centrality was not a significant moderator in the association between therapist cultural humility and therapist satisfaction, and only significant in the relation between future utilization of counseling services for participants who reported high levels of Black LGB centrality. Recommendations for future clinical practice and research efforts are provided.Item Cognitive Mechanisms of Trauma from Police Encounters among Black Individuals(2022) Yee, Stephanie Elza; Shin, Richard Q; Counseling and Personnel Services; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)Black Americans historically have had a contentious relationship with police due to the violence they have endured at the hands of law enforcement (Nadal et al., 2017). Previous research has demonstrated the vast psychological consequences of intrusive police encounters (DeVylder et al., 2017). However, trauma is a largely understudied psychological outcome of police encounters for Black citizens (Bryant-Davis et al., 2017). Research on discrimination attributions for events has implicated cognitive attributions as an important predictor of the relationship between potentially racist incidents and mental health outcomes (Major & Dover, 2016). Additionally, cognitive appraisal has been identified as a very important mechanism of trauma (Sherrer, 2011). The current study seeks to fill the gaps in the literature by examining the relationships between intrusiveness of police encounters, cognitive appraisal, discrimination attributions, and trauma symptoms. Additionally, attitudes towards police are examined as a moderator on the relationship between intrusiveness of police encounters and discrimination attributions. Limitations, implications, and future directions are discussed.Item APPLICATION OF A CULTURALLY RELEVANT HEALTH BELIEF MODEL TO BLACK AND AFRICAN AMERICAN YOUNG ADULTS WITH SICKLE CELL DISEASE DURING TRANSITION TO ADULT HEALTHCARE SERVICES(2022) Pantaleao, Ashley; Fish, Jessica; Anderson, Elaine A.; Public and Community Health; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a hereditary chronic illness hallmarked by pain and functional disability that impacts psychosocial well-being. Within the United States, SCD largely affects Black and African American populations, and general health disparities present in these populations may be further magnified by SCD. Due to the complexity of symptom management, consistent healthcare adherence is imperative and is often scaffolded by family caregivers prior to transition. The transition from the pediatric to adult healthcare facility is a life stage public health concern for young adults with SCD, as it is a time characterized by high mortality and morbidity. Navigating new medical systems and working with new providers are factors contributing to delays in treatment-seeking behavior. Unexplored factors that may impact illness course and outcomes include health-related stigma, racial discrimination, and preparation for bias. This research assessed whether the perceived barriers (e.g., racial discrimination, externalized stigma, and internalized stigma) are linked to SCD-specific self-efficacy and transitioning to the adult healthcare setting, utilizing an adapted Health Belief Model. It additionally explored whether a culturally relevant factor, preparation for bias, contributes to transition readiness. Questionnaires were administered to young adults with SCD who were preparing for transition or actively transitioning to an adult healthcare facility. This work was a first step at exploring the relationships between these variables utilizing a culturally relevant Health Belief Model. Strong positive significant correlations among perceived barrier variables were noted as well as a positive significant correlation between SCD-specific self-efficacy and transition readiness. Results from multivariate models suggest that externalized stigma was significantly positively related to SCD-specific self-efficacy. Counter to expectations, no significant predictors of transition readiness were identified. Additionally, results did not support preparation for bias moderating the relationships between racial discrimination or externalized stigma with SCD-specific self-efficacy or transition readiness. These findings may highlight that our study was underpowered to detect large effects, or that there are additional complex relationships that need to be further explored. A short-term goal of this study was to highlight the value of identifying youth with low self-efficacy or preparation for bias in order to guide educational resources and interventions to increase self-efficacy and readiness to transition for this underserved illness group.Item DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION OF THE PERCEIVED CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE CLIMATE MEASURE FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDENTS (PCRC)(2021) Daye, Alyssa Lauren; O'Neal, Colleen; Psychology; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)This study makes the contribution of developing a measure that provides voice to African American students, offers a broader view of their school experiences than existing cultural responsivity measures, as well as consequences for their academic outcomes. The present study reports the development and initial validation of a measure of perceived culturally responsive climate for African American adolescents (PCRC). The study relies on the existing longitudinal Maryland Adolescent Development in Context Study (MADICS) dataset, a public use dataset collected from 1991-2000. The present study uses two waves of data from participants aged 13 to 18, and the subsample consists of 533 African American youths in Wave 3 (49.3% female; mean age of 14) and 399 African American youths in Wave 4 (51% female; mean age of 17). With the goal of creating a novel measure capturing youth perceptions of cultural responsiveness by both teachers and the school climate, this study combined student self-reported Wave 3 MADICS questionnaires of meaningful and culturally responsive curriculum, high academic expectations, teacher discrimination, peer discrimination, autonomy and self-advocacy, and school social support (i.e., teacher and peer support). Results indicated that a second order factor structure best fit the PCRC measure; the PCRC measure demonstrated adequate internal consistency and test-retest reliability; and the PCRC predicted later math and non-math subject academic ability self-concept for African American adolescents. The study holds implications for schools, educators, and school psychologists hoping to give voice to African American student perceptions of culturally responsive teaching practices and school climate.Item "To Dwell, I'm Determined, on That Happy Ground": An Archaeology of a Free African-American Community in Easton, Maryland, 1787-Present(2020) Jenkins, Tracy H.; Leone, Mark P; Anthropology; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)As early as 1787, free African Americans began making homes in the Easton, Maryland, neighborhood known as The Hill. Over successive generations, The Hill became the cultural and residential center of Easton’s African-American community. The families, businesses, institutions, social fabric, and cultural values that the first generations of free African Americans in Easton created on and around The Hill greatly influenced the development of African-American culture through the nineteenth and twentieth centuries in terms of family and household structure, childrearing, religious life, and the memory and meaning of military service. Tracing these developments, with a focus on how African Americans and some white supporters worked together to combat slavery, racism, and other oppressions, illustrates how the politics of the freedom struggle were coded into everyday life. This investigation has also supported local grassroots efforts to preserve the legacy of that struggle on The Hill through public scholarship and practice, historic preservation, and community revitalization.Item THE IMPACT OF ETHNIC AND RACIAL IDENTITY ON THE RELATION BETWEEN AFRICAN AMERICAN TEST ANXIETY AND LATER ACHIEVEMENT(2019) Daye, Alyssa Lauren; O'Neal, Colleen; Psychology; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)The present study tests a protective factor which may mitigate the negative impact of test anxiety on academic outcomes. This study examines ethnic and racial identity as a moderator of the impact of test anxiety on grades and academic ability self-concept among African American adolescents. The study relies on the existing longitudinal Maryland Adolescent Development in Context Study (MADICS) dataset, a public use dataset collected from 1991-2000. The subsample consists of 533 African American youths in Wave 3 and 399 African American youths in Wave 4. The present study uses two waves of data from participants aged 13 to 18. This study employs self-reported questionnaires of test anxiety, ethnic and racial identity, grades, and academic ability self-concept. Moderation analyses are conducted to test ethnic and racial identity as a protective factor mitigating the impact of test anxiety on later grades and academic ability self-concept, while adjusting for gender, socioeconomic status, and age. Results indicate that ethnic and racial identity moderated the relation between test anxiety and GPA, such that the lower the level of ethnic and racial identity, the more protective it becomes. Discussion centers on potential causes for the unexpected trend in moderation.