Latino and African American Youth
In “Dummy Smart”, Victor Rios studies Black and Latino youth. Rios figured out that these two youths were creating their own social capitals. Resulting from poverty, and lack of basics needs the boys received their respect in numerous ways. Often they resulted to criminal activity to just prove a point that there are in control and respected. Growing up in poverty stricken areas they were denied the means to be successful in the capital and social markets of school and the work force. Often criminalized and seen as deviant, their idea of professional behavior did not correlate with mainstream ideas. So when the youth intended to do good and the right thing, it was almost never recognized and seen as deviant behavior. “The developed their own alternative to social and capital culture, which they used to survive property, persists in a violent and sociology punitive ecology, prevent violence, avoid incarceration and attempt to fit into mainstream institutions.” All they were trying to accomplish was gain respect from society and in social institutions. Though seen as criminals, the minorities craved a sense of equality and dignity. They satisfied these cravings through violence and theft. Minorities are being conditioning that the only option is violence and that they will alway be seen as minorities and deviant to society. Not fitting into a system, they searched for alternative ways to gain respect and acceptance. We see this throughout history with so many minorities that this happens often. People are resulting to extreme measures to fit into society. Just as the Salvadorian youth did with hang violence, the Latino and Black youth are doing here, what the Zoot suitors did with their clothing and so many more. We are seeing patterns in these behaviors, instead of resulting to criminalizing these youths why don't we observe the common factors. Something is wrong with society is such thing are happening in multiple cultures just to be accepted. In societies were youths are wanted and respected they are doing what they can to create their own form of dignity and acceptance in their communities. While doing so they deemed as delinquent, criminals and such by the people who aren't accepting them and granting them basic things. It's so unfortunate because they aren't being accepted and they take matters into their own hands and then they are distanced and unaccepted even more.
