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Tracing the Historical Origins of Youth Delinquency & Violence: Myths & Realities About Black Culture
Author(s) -
Cross William E.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
journal of social issues
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.618
H-Index - 122
eISSN - 1540-4560
pISSN - 0022-4537
DOI - 10.1111/1540-4560.t01-1-00005
Subject(s) - juvenile delinquency , mainstream , criminology , acculturation , sociology , mythology , psychology , social psychology , gender studies , political science , ethnic group , law , history , anthropology , classics
The negative effects of slavery have been theoretically linked to contemporary problems faced by African Americans, such as family instability, low achievement motivation, and high rates of juvenile delinquency and youth violence. Combining historical, sociological, and psychological materials, the current analysis argues that Blacks exited slavery with the necessary social capital, inclusive of proactive family attitudes and patterns as well as high achievement motivation, for rapid acculturation into mainstream America. Shifting to the present, it is shown that the co‐existence of high Black crime rates and Black cultural integrity are not contradictory, especially when systemic forces neutralize or undermine the ameliorative potential of Black culture.