The Disproportionate Overrepresentation of Minority Youth in ...

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students more chances before they send them to the office, because they know the black
parents will be up there.”
Overall, both races had high educational expectations. Yet their expectations
might be unrealistic relative to their current situations. In general, there was a positive
attitude toward education and future aspirations. Both races perceived equal treatment of
blacks and whites by teachers.
Blame
The youth were also asked who they blamed for their current situation. The self—
report data indicated that both blacks and whites place blame upon themselves (60
percent of the whites and 60 percent of the blacks). The interviews also suggested that
blacks and whites placed blame upon themselves.
One black female stated, “I blame myself because if you put your mind to it you
can do it.” Another black female, “Yourself. If I really want to do something there
shouldn’t be anybody else who can stop me.” A white male said, “Probably at first I’d
blame society, but after I thought about it I’d probably go back and see what I did wrong
and try to go for it again.”
There were a few youth who blamed others. A black male blamed society.
“Society, yes but that would probably be a big part of it. Society messes up everything
else. They rule over everything so you really have no say in what happens.” A black
female who is pregnant blames her mother because, “she probably won’t let me get