The Multidimensional Model of Racial Identity (MMRI) is a synthesis of two approaches to understanding African American racial identity: the mainstream approach, which focuses on universal aspects of group identity, and the underground approach, which emphasizes the unique cultural and historical experiences of African Americans. The MMRI proposes four dimensions of African American racial identity: salience, centrality, regard, and ideology. These dimensions address both the significance of race in individuals' lives and the meaning they attribute to being Black. Salience refers to the extent to which race is relevant to an individual's self-concept in a particular situation. Centrality refers to the extent to which race is a normative part of an individual's self-concept across different situations. Regard refers to an individual's affective and evaluative judgment of their race in terms of positive or negative valence. Ideology refers to the beliefs and values associated with being Black. The MMRI is based on several assumptions, including that identities are situationally influenced and stable, that individuals have multiple identities that are hierarchically ordered, that individuals' perception of their racial identity is the most valid indicator of their identity, and that the status of an individual's racial identity is more important than its development. The MMRI provides a framework for understanding both the significance of race in the self-concepts of African Americans and the qualitative meanings they attribute to being members of that racial category. It also provides a mechanism by which racial identity influences individuals' situational appraisals and behaviors. The MMRI is intended to contribute to traditional research objectives of both approaches and to provide the impetus to explore new questions. The model is sensitive to the historical and cultural experiences that make racial identity a unique form of group identity for African Americans. The MMRI is a conceptual framework that allows for the examination of the significance and meaning of race in the self-concepts of African Americans. It is also a framework for studying the cultural and experiential influences that comprise the qualitative aspects of African American identity. The MMRI is a potential complement to developmental models of racial identity, as it allows for the fact that the significance and meaning that individuals place on race are likely to change across their lifespan. The MMRI provides a rubric from which to describe the significance and meaning of race at various points along the developmental trajectory. Using the MMRI along with some of the existing developmental models could help validate the assumptions associated with both approaches and provide a more comprehensive understanding of the nature and development of racial identity in African Americans.The Multidimensional Model of Racial Identity (MMRI) is a synthesis of two approaches to understanding African American racial identity: the mainstream approach, which focuses on universal aspects of group identity, and the underground approach, which emphasizes the unique cultural and historical experiences of African Americans. The MMRI proposes four dimensions of African American racial identity: salience, centrality, regard, and ideology. These dimensions address both the significance of race in individuals' lives and the meaning they attribute to being Black. Salience refers to the extent to which race is relevant to an individual's self-concept in a particular situation. Centrality refers to the extent to which race is a normative part of an individual's self-concept across different situations. Regard refers to an individual's affective and evaluative judgment of their race in terms of positive or negative valence. Ideology refers to the beliefs and values associated with being Black. The MMRI is based on several assumptions, including that identities are situationally influenced and stable, that individuals have multiple identities that are hierarchically ordered, that individuals' perception of their racial identity is the most valid indicator of their identity, and that the status of an individual's racial identity is more important than its development. The MMRI provides a framework for understanding both the significance of race in the self-concepts of African Americans and the qualitative meanings they attribute to being members of that racial category. It also provides a mechanism by which racial identity influences individuals' situational appraisals and behaviors. The MMRI is intended to contribute to traditional research objectives of both approaches and to provide the impetus to explore new questions. The model is sensitive to the historical and cultural experiences that make racial identity a unique form of group identity for African Americans. The MMRI is a conceptual framework that allows for the examination of the significance and meaning of race in the self-concepts of African Americans. It is also a framework for studying the cultural and experiential influences that comprise the qualitative aspects of African American identity. The MMRI is a potential complement to developmental models of racial identity, as it allows for the fact that the significance and meaning that individuals place on race are likely to change across their lifespan. The MMRI provides a rubric from which to describe the significance and meaning of race at various points along the developmental trajectory. Using the MMRI along with some of the existing developmental models could help validate the assumptions associated with both approaches and provide a more comprehensive understanding of the nature and development of racial identity in African Americans.