The Disproportionate Overrepresentation of Minority Youth in ...

improving. There was one twelve year old who did not even know what
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“discrimination” meant. When asked, “Do you feel racial discrimination is getting
worse”, there was a silence. The youth was then asked, “Do you know what I mean
when I say racial discrimination” The answer, “No.” When told that “Discrimination is
when you treat someone different because of something about them, like their sex or their
race. Some people say that black people in our country are treated differently because of
that. Do you think that’s true” The youth responded, “Yeah.” Asked, “Why is that so”
The youth claims that, “They always treat black people mean.”
Responses from white youth that felt racial discrimination was worse are:
Q: Do you feel racial discrimination is getting worse
A: Yes. Just when you’re walking around in the streets and stuff, the way
people will look at you if you’re different than them.
Q: If you’re a different race
A: Yeah, and the way that they’ll treat you in school or the way that
they’ll talk to you.
Q: Have you ever seen that happen
A: Yes.
Q: Where
A: At my school recently there was a kid who pulled a gun on another kid
because he was a different color and because he didn’t like him.
Q: What color was pulling a gun on what color
A: A Mexican was pulling a gun on a white.
Q: Usually when we think of racial discrimination we think about white
people discriminating against people of color. Do you think it works the
other way around
A: I think it works both ways. It’s not just whites against blacks or
whatever.
Q: Well, some other people say that blacks don’t have as easy a chance as
being successful and achieving their goals as whites do. What do you