The Disproportionate Overrepresentation of Minority Youth in ...

410
encourage sexual promiscuity, as evident by nonmarital child bearing, are also indicative
of defiance to middle-class norms and values.
The second stage in Lewin’s change strategy is to develop an awareness of the
motives and a belief in the need to change those sources of bias. To accomplish this task,
decision makers and society in general, need to recognize that racism can take many
forms. Blatant racism is overt and intentional while subtle racism is disguised and
unintentional.
As indicated in Chapter Two, most individuals do not see themselves as racist or
treating someone differently because of his/her skin color, ethnicity or culture because
he/she adheres to images of blatant racism (e.g., the Rodney King incident). Yet,
conscious acts of blatant racism are not the norm in our society. Unfortunately, subtle or
indirect racism is much more extensive but not as apparent, such as a strong expectation
of adherence to certain cultural standards. As a result, most people are not as willing to
recognize or admit to subtle racism:
that they themselves could be unintentionally responding to individuals differently
because of their skin color, ethnicity or culture.
Thus, juvenile court decision makers need to be made aware of unintentional
expressions of racism. They also need to recognize that all persons to varying degrees
may practice subtle racism. People differ in the extent to which they accept this and