This study predicts that race is not related to global measures of self-esteem but that in the context of specific evaluative feedback, racial differences in self-evaluation will be observed. Forty black and 40 white college students were administered the Tennessee Self-Concept Scale and a series of memory tasks about which contrived feedback was given. As predicted, results indicate no significant differences between the races on global measures of self-esteem. Racial and sexual differences are found in post-experimental ratings of ability to memorize. Although there are no significant differences in actual performance, remarkable differences are noted in self-evaluation between those given negative and those given positive feedback. Differences are observed between blacks and whites, especially white men in their level of self-evaluation in the presence of external feedback. White men are less affected by negative feedback than blacks and white females. These differences support the existence of differential expectations and feedback on the part of social systems along racial and sexual lines. Results of the study have an important implication for subsequent research on self-esteem and race. It is important that the distinction be made between report of self-evaluation that occurs in a context of specific feedback and one which does not, because the choice of one procedure over the other may determine whether racial differences will be found. (Author/AM)