Ni, Lan2012-06-282012-06-28May 20122012-05http://hdl.handle.net/10657/ETD-UH-2012-05-398This study examined the role of mentorship in assisting African Americans in public relations with promotion, salary growth, retention, job satisfaction and overcoming racial barriers. In-depth interviews were used to explore the relationship between career success and mentorship in careers of eleven African American public relations practitioners. The social exchange theory, leader-member exchange theory and perceived organizational support were used to guide this study. Mentoring was shown to contribute to career success, which includes a direct link to job satisfaction and retention, and an indirect link to promotion and salary growth. Additionally, mentorship was perceived as assistance for overcoming racial barriers because of psychological support. The results suggest that because of social divisions, African Americans have taken extra measures to achieve success in the workplace. These findings contribute to literatures regarding mentorship, career success and African American in public relations.application/pdfengThe author of this work is the copyright owner. UH Libraries and the Texas Digital Library have their permission to store and provide access to this work. Further transmission, reproduction, or presentation of this work is prohibited except with permission of the author(s).MentorshipAfrican AmericansPublic relationsCareer successRacismDiscriminationPublic relations2012-06-28Thesisborn digital