THE "MARGINALIZATION" OF BLACK YOUTH

{ADAPTATIONS TO THE JANE-FINCH STIGMA]

SOCIAL STRUCTRUAL CONDITIONS

AT THE DAWN OF THE NEW MILLENNIUM, UNEMPLOYMENT RATE OF APPROXIMATELY 25% (TO 50% IN SOME ACCOUNTS), FAR ABOVE THE NATIONAL AVERAGE WHICH IS NOW ABOUT 6.9% IN 2001. BLACK YOUTH, THEREFORE, COMPRISE AN "UNDERCLASS" IN SOCIETY THAT HAS A RACIAL STIGMA{THE “JANE-FINCH” STIGMA} ATTACHED == BLACK YOUTH ARE THEREFORE PROBLEMATIZED AS INDOLENT, DERELICT, AND VIOLENCE-PRONE.

ONE CONSEQUENCE OF THIS JANE-FINCH STIGMA IS A RELENTLESS “GET TOUGH ON CRIME” CAMPAIGN.

THE SOCIOLOGICAL PROCESS

RACIALIZATION: REFERS TO THE ASSIGNING OF RACIAL CONNOTATIONS TO THE ACTIVITIES OF MINORITY PEOPLE ======è

STIGMATIZATION: REFERS TO A MARK OF DISGRACE IMPOSED ON AN INDIVIDUAL BY OTHER INDIVIDUALS OR A SOCIAL GROUP. IN POPULAR USAGE IT OFTEN REFERS TO ANY NEGATIVE SANCTION OR DISAPPROVAL FOR NONCONFORMITY. AN UNDESIRABLE DIFFERENTNESS OF AN INDIVIDUAL THAT DISQUALIFIES HIM OR HER FROM FULL SOCIAL ACCEPTANCE. SOCIOLOGISTS ORIGINALLY USED THE TERM TO SHOW HOW HUMANS NOT ONLY SEEK TO CONTROL THE PHYSICAL WORLD BUT THE SOCIAL WORLD =========è

MARGINALIZATION: REFERS TO THE STATUS OF A GROUP WHO DOES NOT HAVE FULL AND EQUAL ACCESS TO THE SOCIAL ECONOMIC, CULTURAL, AND POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS OF SOCIETY.

HOW CAN YOU NEGOTIATE THE REALITY OF A NEGATIVE STIGMA OF BLACK YOUTH (INDOLENT, DERELICT, AND VIOLENCE-PRONE)?

1) EMBRACE STIGMA -- HE CAN EMBRACE THE RACIAL STIGMA PROJECTED ON HIM BY "INTERNALIZING" AN IMAGE OF HIMSELF AS INFERIOR, TRUANT AND UNEMPLOYABLE;

2) REJECT STIGMA -- HE CAN REJECT THE STIGMA, AND TREAT HIS UNDERCLASS STATUS AS A“BADGE OF HONOUR," BY GLORIFYING THE PARIAH UNDER-WORLDS OF PIMPS, PLAYERS, DRUG DEALERS AND SUCH – TOTALLY ALLYING HIMSELF WITH AN ASSORTED CONFEDERACY OF GANGSTERS AND BAD-BOYS;

{EX: SOME SOCIAL THEORISTS CONTEND THAT POPULAR CULTURE HAS MOTIVATED MANY YOUNG BLACK MEN TO EMBRACE WHOLEHEARTEDLY SOCIETY'S NEGATIVE VIEW OF THEM. THIS IS CALLED THE “COMMODIFICATION OF THE THUG.” HERE, YOUNG BLACK MEN ENTHUSIASTICALLY EMBRACE OTHERWISE NEGATIVE STEREOTYPES, OFTEN TO AVOID BEING CONSIDERED SELL-OUTS BY THEIR FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES. QUES: IS THIS CONCEPT OF THE COMMODIFICATION OF THE THUG EXEMPLIFIED IN THE “PUGULISTIC EROTICISM” OF RAP MUSIC?}

3) COMPENSATORY FACADE -- HE CAN DEVELOP A COMPENSATORY FACADE (OR "OVERCOMPENSATE", IF YOU WILL), THEREFORE, SEEKING TO SINGULARLY OVER-ACHIEVE IN SCHOOL OR THE WORKPLACE, IN ORDER TO NEGATE THE STIGMA, BY BECOMING A BOOKISH GEEK, A WORKAHOLIC NERD, OR A SELF- CHALLENGED "OREO"; OR LAST BUT NOT LEAST

4) TRANSCEND STIGMA -- HE CAN TRANSCEND THE STIGMA, BY STRUGGLING TO DEVELOP AND ACTUALIZE HIS FULL POTENTIAL – HONING HIS UNIQUENESS AND TAPING INTO A LIFE RICH WITH POSSIBILITIES, THEREFORE, BECOMING LIKE MORPHEUS AND NEO IN THE MOVIE "THE MATRIX," IN SEARCH OF THE AUTHENTIC LIFE.

[[NOTE:OF COURSE, WHILE THE LATTER # 4 “TRANSCENDING THE JANE-FINCH STIGMA” – (BECOMING AN AUTHENTIC BEING, OR BECOMING "THE ONE" TO QUOTE THE MOVIE) IS MUCH MORE PREFERABLE TO THE OTHER THREE (WHICH ARE REALLY ONLY VARIOUS DISTORTIONS OF BEING), IT IS ALSO THE MOST DIFFICULT TO ACHIEVE. INDEED, IT USUALLY ONLY HAPPENS IN THE MOVIES....]]

SYNOPSIS: THIS IS TO SAY, IN ORDER TO BE IN A POSITION TO ACTUALIZE THEMSELVES, AND CULTIVATE THEIR POTENTIAL FOR EXTRAORDINARY ACHIEVEMENTS, BLACK YOUTH NEED THIS SOCIETY TO ACTUALLY CARE ABOUT THEIR INTERESTS AND WELL-BEING. AN ACCOMPLISHED LIFE CANNOT HAPPEN IN A SOCIAL VACUUM. BLACK YOUTH NEED SOCIETY TO EMBRACE THEM AND NURTURE THEIR UNIQUE ENDOWMENTS – NOT ONLY INCORPORATING THEM INTO THE MAINSTREAM OF SOCIAL LIFE, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, INCORPORATING THEM IN A WAY THAT EMBRACES THEIR DIFFERENCE RATHER THAN TRIES TO NEGATE OR REPRESS IT. UNTIL BLACK YOUTH ACTUALLY BECOME “AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE FABRIC AND AGENDA OF SOCIETY,” AND THE COMFORTABLE COMPLACENCY OF RACIAL STRATIFICATION IS REPUDIATED, THE CYCLE OF DESPAIR AND VIOLENCE WILL CONTINUE.

{THIS MEANS ... WE HAVE TO BEGIN TO SEEK TO INCREASE “THE ENVIRONMENT OF OPTIONS” AND POSSIBLITIES; ENVIRONMENT THAT IS CONDUCIVE TO MOTIVATIONAL CHANGE ==è “THE POSSIBLITY STRUCTURE/ OR STURUCTURE OF POSSIBLITIES” IN ALL OF SOCIETY’S SYSTEMS AND INSTITUTIONS.}

...

[[[[[QUESTION: AFTER BLACK YOUTH ARE PROBLEMATIZED IN OUR SOCIETY? =======> CONTEMPORARY MAINSTREAM MEDIA CONTROLS THE DISCOURSE ON CRIME {AS A SURROGATE OR REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DOMINANT CULTURE} =====> THROUGH THE PROPAGATION OF DISCOURSES ON "GOOD CITIZENSHIP" =====> COMMENDATION FOR MINORITY SELF- AND COMMUNITY-RESPONSIBILITY-MOTIFS [OR "DO THE RIGHT THING" PIECES]; AND CIVIC-DUTY-CONFLICTS-AND-MOTIFS [OR "EXPOSE OUR FLAWS" PIECES THAT CALL FOR BLACK COMMUNITY ACTION]} =======>

{SOME MIGHT CALL THIS – "THE BILL COSBY SYNDROME" – PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY/FAMILY VALUES/COMMUNITY INITIATIVES/ RALLYING THE TROOPS BECOMES "HEADLINE NEWS" ======> ALL IN ALL, WHAT I CALL DISCOURSES ON "GOOD CITIZENSHIP"]]]]

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IN REGARD TO YOUTH JUSTICE IN OUR SOCIETY THEN, TO BEGIN TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM SOCIOLOGIALLY IS TO BEGIN TO SEE THE NEED FOR THE BALANCE BETWEEN “AGENCY AND STRUCTURE” {INDIVIDUAL/PRIVATE RESPONSIBILITY AND SOCIAL/STRUCTURAL POSSIBILITIES} OR, TO COIN A PHRASE – IT NOW TAKES A VILLAGE TO SAVE A CHILD.

BUT ====> HOW CAN THE VILLAGE GET MOBILIZED? WHAT CAN THE VILLAGE DO TO BEST SAVE OUR CHILDREN?

{THIS MEANS} TO ACTUALLY "GET TOUGH ON YOUTH CRIME" (TO USE THE HARDLINE VERNACULAR), SOCIETY HAS TO MOBILIZE ALL OF ITS POTENTIAL RESOURCES - TRADITIONAL AND NON-TRADITIONAL - IN A COOPERATIVE AND INTEGRATED SEARCH THAT LOOKS BEYOND THE JUSTICE SYSTEM FOR SOLUTIONS.