Extended Kinship Relations in Black and White Families

This study is an attempt to compare and explain the differences in extended family cohesion of black and white families. The black family is not approached as deviant or pathological, but from the view of a separate subculture within a pluralistic society. Comparisons were made in terms of both intensity and extensity of interaction of black and white families with their extended kin. Specific comparisons were made of contact and help patterns, number of kin living in the household, and salience ofkin. It is shown that the extended kin network is a more salient structure for black families than it is for white families.