The Disproportionate Overrepresentation of Minority Youth in ...

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worse (Tables 1, 2). In the interviews, the whites showed a much wider variety of
opinions on racism, and yet there was still a general consensus: they feel discrimination is
a result of ignorance. As stated by a 17 year—old white female: “I think its getting bad
because you got all these jerks out here that are like ‘Niggers, Niggers’. They are not
niggers. They’re black.”
There are some whites who feel discrimination is getting worse, but it is not just
by whites against blacks. These youth feel discrimination goes both ways and cite the
growth of gang violence as an indication of rising racial tension. A 14 year—old white
male said, “It’s getting so that, instead of all the white people being against black people,
it’s the black people against white people now.” At least one black youth also believed
both whites and blacks discriminate.
This Klu Klux Klan stuff has got to go. And the black people always
messing with white people because they are weaker, that has to go too.
Because if I see a black person at my school messing with a white person
or something, I go on the white person’s side because I feel that is really
stupid. I would fight for somebody if that happened and I was around.
Many of the blacks said they had little personal experience with discrimination.
Yet, they are aware of it and feel it is getting worse. A 16 year—old mullatto male says,
“I hear everybody talking about it.. .1 feel it’s getting worse.” Another black youth bases
his response on recent events covered by the media. He feels discrimination is getting
worse