Introduction

African-American youth is five times more like to be incarcerated than youth of White and Latino ethnic groups. And although, African-American youth only make up 14% of youth under 18 in the U.S., 43% of African-American boys represent the male population in juvenile facilities, and incarcerated African-American girls make up 34% (Serrano, 2018). These discrepancies are the outcome of many other intersected components besides juvenile delinquency and deviant behavior. For many of these disadvantaged juveniles, their journey begins with their self-perception and how they internalize their race. As they struggle with their roles within society and their psychological and emotional traumas, their family’s socioeconomic status also affects the way they are perceived, accepted and treated not only by the justice system but by the education system as well. As a result, many African-American juveniles wind up victims of the justice system and becoming the status quo in juvenile incarceration.

Race

According to sociologists, race is socially and politically constructed, and it uses particular traits to organize people into hierarchies (Batres Lecture 2019), resulting in inequalities. Since the beginning of time, there has been a stigmatization for African-Americans and their skin color. Since an early age, that stigma is implanted in their self-identity and with time they understand that race will affect their lives and future opportunities in society. In Brinkley-Rubistein, Craven, and McCormack’s study of 2013, a 10-year-old participant stated: “us as African-Americans doesn’t get a lot of privileges.” Young African-Americans seem to accept the idea that individuals of their same race are often criminal offenders. Though it seems many do believe that if they work hard they can be the difference; however, their environment and self-concepts often only give them two alternatives: 1) they beat the statistics and achieve a positive outcome or 2) they fall into the expectations and join the gang and commit their lives to the never ending cycle of deviant behavior, increasing yet their associations with the justice system. As previously stated, African-American children are exposed to early racial internalizations. Since an early age they are taught to think and behave differently because even the simplest of their actions can be criminalized. As they are being taught how to add and subtract, they are also being taught about discrimination and the societal ideals and stereotypes against their race; internalizing that “they are bad people” simply for the color of their skin.

Internalizing stereotypes can cause traumas in early childhood and mold future behaviors. A 2013, study by Kang and Burton showed, that young African-Americans who experienced considerable levels of trauma were more likely to get involved in delinquency. Stereotype theorist suggest that lack of future aspirations can result in disconnection from social institutions, because they fear they may validate preexisting societal stereotypes. (Brinkley-Rubistein, Craven & McCormack, 2013). Moreover, according to the Labeling theory, one internalizes cultural expectations and when an individual is often labeled as deviant, then individual internalizes the idea and acts upon it by taking on the role, resulting in this particular case in delinquency. This is the proclaimed result of the African-American youth, they are criminalized by their skin color since an early age and eventually take on the role that’s society has given them. As they start experiencing life and seeing the limitations society provides, they began disassociating from their race. Cases have been registered in which African-American’s when looking for better opportunities, lie about their ethnic groups on paper, demonstrating the effects of social categorization.

Social Environment

As they take on the delinquent label given by society, they begin their journey in life, and struggle with their roles and self-identity. Many of African-Americans deal with additional life obstacles. Many of the incarcerated youth has experienced living disadvantages in their early lifetime. Income is the most pronounce factor when it comes to equality and inequality, particularly when it comes to race. African-American unemployment is often at high rates as they are often without jobs or have lesser employment opportunities, when compared to other ethnic groups, often depending on public program assistance. In the 2009 study by McCarter, data showed African-American reported an annual family income less than $25,000. It is important to note, the African-American community does not only struggle with race internalization and income inequality but with family as well.

Family structure and human interaction is fundamental for humans. It is often a s