Skip to main content
Article
The Enduring Significance of Racism: Discrimination and Delinquency Among Black American Youth
Journal of Research on Adolescence
  • Monica J. Martin, University of California, Davis
  • Bill McCarthy, University of California, Davis
  • Rand D. Conger, University of California, Davis
  • Frederick X. Gibbons, Dartmouth College
  • Ronald L. Simons, University of Georgia
  • Carolyn E. Cutrona, Iowa State University
  • Gene H. Brody, University of Georgia
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
9-1-2011
DOI
10.1111/j.1532-7795.2010.00699.x
Abstract

Prominent explanations of the overrepresentation of Black Americans in criminal justice statistics focus on the effects of neighborhood concentrated disadvantage, racial isolation, and social disorganization. We suggest that perceived personal discrimination is an important but frequently neglected complement to these factors. We test this hypothesis with longitudinal data on involvement in general and violent juvenile delinquency in a sample of Black youth from a variety of communities in 2 states. We examine the direct effects of concentrated disadvantage and racial isolation and the direct and mediating effects of social organization, support for violence, and personal discrimination. Consistent with our hypothesis, perceived personal discrimination has notable direct effects on both general and violent delinquency and is an important mediator between neighborhood structural conditions and offending; moreover, its effects exceed those associated with neighborhood conditions.

Comments

This is an author's manuscript of an article from Journal of Research on Adolescence 21 (2011): 662–676, doi:10.1111/j.1532-7795.2010.00699.x. Posted with permission.

Copyright Owner
The Authors, Journal of Research on Adolescence
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Citation Information
Monica J. Martin, Bill McCarthy, Rand D. Conger, Frederick X. Gibbons, et al.. "The Enduring Significance of Racism: Discrimination and Delinquency Among Black American Youth" Journal of Research on Adolescence Vol. 21 Iss. 3–4 (2011) p. 662 - 676
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/carolyn_cutrona/8/