Family Therapy and the Black Middle Class: A Neglected Area of Study*

Little has been written and virtually no empirical research has been presented concerning family therapy with members of the Black middle class. In this article, a number of factors are discussed in the light of recent sociological inquiries. These findings are discussed in terms of family systems theory in order to provide the clinician with some insights into the dynamics of family functioning in the Black community. Suggestions for working with these families are then offered. The question of whether White therapists can work effectively with Black families is discussed and the pertinent empirical findings available from the field of individual therapy are considered.