| Sumario: | This article discusses the significance of automobiles to the stereotype of African Americans. Despite the fact that it has often been noted that there are more differences within an ethnic group than between groups, standardized beliefs called stereotypes have accumulated and become part of the popular culture in the U.S. In any given city with a considerable African American population, it can be observed that African Americans, as well as members of other racial and ethnic groups, drive expensive cars. It is recognized that class differences and class factors enter into almost every aspect of everyday life. As in the general population, various phases of culture and forms of associated life in the African American community can be understood only when studied in relation to its class structure. On the basis of an improvised version of the Consumer Reports' fourfold classification of cars according to price, it was found that there was no significant association between make of car owned and subjective social class designation. On the other hand, on the basis of a fourfold occupational classification, there was a highly significant association between occupation and social class designation.
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