Social Process Theories: Explanations of Juvenile Delinquency (Essay)

Chapter One

Introduction

There are various causes of crime among youth, such as, poor social skills, lack of economic opportunities, labeling, poor parenting, drugs, mental health, and various other potential variables which lead to delinquency. Wolfgang’s Career Criminal cohort study found that 6% of all juvenile delinquents commit almost 2/3 of all felonies among juvenile delinquents, and that these juveniles have a significant likelihood of continuing their criminal careers into adulthood (Walker, 2006). However, delinquency and criminal behavior is learned through socialization, social processes of society and social institutions. Consequently, socialization which takes places at home, school, and between peer-group association, has the tendency to teach delinquent behaviors and criminal techniques.

In addition, once a youth has been processed through the criminal justice system, labeled, and stigmatized, the negative label received from this degradation ceremony tends to become their master status, which alienates them from the rest of society; thus, creates more crime. The negative label and stigma may cause permanent harm and the youth will tend to consider themselves as an outcast, which creates a negative self-image and self-concept, which poorly insulates the young from criminogenic forces.

Crime and delinquency are learned behaviors via socialization and interaction. Therefore, it is important that parents adopt proper parenting skills which will provide a bond which is necessary to assist youth in resisting criminogenic factors. Moreover, Hirschi (1969) posits that youths whose bonds are weak, may fall prey to criminogenic factors, therefore, it is important that children are properly socialized and integrated within society. Children who have positive relationships and bonds with significant others, or are committed to a specific goals are less willing to commit crime or display delinquent behavior. Thus, there is a statistically significant relationship between socialization and criminal behavior and delinquency.

Problem Statement

Statistical research suggests that children with weak social bonds, negative relationships with significant others, improper or anti-social behavior issues, and poor socialization skills, tend to become delinquent and commit crime. More programs need to be implemented in order to prevent crime, keep children in school and out of jail, and present opportunities for members of the lower class which would not ordinarily be presented to them due to their socio-economic position in society, in an effort to prevent crime, and promote social control.

Purpose of the Study

The purpose of the study is to analyze the issues that correlate with delinquency among youthful offenders. The issues will be analyzed and explained from a Social Process Theory perspective which posits that proper socialization promotes positive behavior. Moreover, juveniles with behavioral issues can be rehabilitated by developing social bonds to social institutions and processes. The study will analyze the issues which are related to issues experienced among juveniles that push them to become delinquent and commit crime.

Significance of the Study

This study is important because juveniles are disproportionately represented in the criminal justice system, when research suggests that only 6% of the juvenile delinquents are committing 2/3 of all serious crimes (Walker, 2006). Research indicates that policy should be changed to target the juveniles who are likely to become life course persisters, rather than harshly punishing the remaining 94% of juvenile delinquents who are committing petty offenses such as truancy, loitering, underage drinking, and various non-violent offenses. Moreover, this study suggests that mitigating circumstances such as poor parenting, neglect, and abuse should be considered upon sentencing juveniles in court. In addition, this study suggests that programs should be implemented in an effort to assist juveniles in developing skills that they had not previously developed, such as socialization skills, how to avoid peer pressure, etc. which could have helped them resist crimimogenic factors.

Research Questions

RQ_1:       Are youth who have poor social bonds more likely to engage in delinquent behavior?

RQ₂:    Are youth who have been poorly socialized more likely to become delinquent than those who have been positively socialized?

RQ₃:    Is there a relationship between socialization and crime?

Chapter Two

Literature Review

Reckless (1967) argues that individuals are able to withstand the temptations of immediate gratification by two forms of containment: inner and outer. He posits that participating in deviant behavior in order to obtain easy or immediate gratification can be thwarted by the individual’s conception of self and the amount of pressure which is rendered upon them by their family or other significant individuals or groups who are important to them. Reckless (1967) found that when an individual’s self-concept is negative, they tend to become delinquent or criminal which tends to be opposite of an individual with a positive self-image. In addition, the desire to be accepted by individuals or groups whom are significant to them deters them from anti-social and deviant behavior.

Moreover, Hirschi (1969) makes the assumption that delinquents lack four variables of social bonds: attachment, commitment, involvement, and belief. Hirschi posits that low self-control is established in early childhood as a result of poor parenting and lack of behavioral reinforcements. In addition, self-control is determined by the level of positive socialization that an individual experiences in early life and tends to follow them through their lifetime. Hirschi has found that individuals only need motivation in order to find excuses in favor of engaging in criminal acts. Immediate gratification with minimal risks of pain, are assumed to be a natural human instinct, and there is no need to search for explanations for crime.

In addition, children who have been abused and/or neglected tend to become delinquent. In fact, Hirschi (1969) posits that children with weak social bonds tend to become delinquent, as well. Seigel and Welsh (2009) posit that children who have been abused tend to experience mental and social problems across their lifespan. Therefore, it is critical that parents develop positive and effective parenting skills.

Howard Becker (1963) posit that society creates deviance through a system of social control agencies that designate or label, certain individuals as delinquent thereby stigmatizing them to accept this negative personal identity. Once the individual is stigmatized and accepts this negative personal identity, society reacts. Moreover, Sutherland (1939) posits that criminal behavior is learned and that crime occurs when the definitions favorable to violating the law exceed the definitions favorable to obeying the law.

Chapter Three

Methodology

Secondary research analysis has been conducted in order to explain the relationship between delinquency among youth, dependent upon their socialization, social bonds, social involvement, commitment, peer groups associations, and educational experiences. Consequently, Social Process Theories have been analyzed in conducting the research to examine the causes of consequences of juvenile delinquency.

Hypotheses

H¹:       Youth who have weak social bonds are more likely to commit crime than those who with strong bonds.

H^2:           Youth who have been poorly socialized are more likely to become deviant than those who have been positively socialized.

H^3:           There is a statistically significant relationship between socialization and crime.

Chapter Four

Results

Children who have behavioral problems tend to grow into juvenile delinquents and eventually into adult offenders (Lilly, Cullen and Ball, 2007). Moreover, youth who have been neglected by their parents, or have parents with poor parenting skills, tend to engage in criminal acts and lack self-control (Gottfredson and Hirschi , 1995). Youths with loving, supportive parents who have the resources to supervise and punish their children are more likely to properly develop self-control, a positive self-image, and resist the temptations of committing crime.

Chapter Five

Discussion

Social process theories posit that proper socialization promotes positive behavior. Youths with behavioral problems can be rehabilitated by developing social bonds to social institutions and processes. Moreover, social process theories posit that delinquency is a function of socialization. Delinquency is fostered by interactions with organizations, institutions, and processes of society. Siegel and Welsh (2009) posit that youths are mostly influenced by their family relationships, peer group associations, educational experiences, and interaction with figures of authority. Consequently, if relationships are positive and supportive, youths tend to obey societal norms and accepted standards of behavior. However, if the relationships are negative, youths tend to display destructive behavior, do not adhere to conventional norms, and resort to delinquency as an alternative solution to their issues.

It is important to study the onset, persistence, specialization, aging-out, desistence trajectories for juvenile offenders, because if intervention is implemented early, it could greatly reduce the possibility of a life course criminal career. According to Siegel and Welsh (2009), life course theory suggests that delinquent behavior is a dynamic process, influenced by individual characteristics as well as social experiences, and that the factors that cause antisocial behaviors change dramatically over a person’s lifespan. Therefore, with the development of social bonds that ties an individual to social institutions and processes, a youth can be rehabilitated (Hirschi, 1969). According to Glueck (1934), the deeper the roots of childhood maladjustment, the smaller the chance of adult adjustment. Moreover, youth who are antisocial early in life are most likely to continue their deviancy into adulthood. Consequently, it is important to study the onset of delinquency in order to prevent crime and youths in becoming life course persisters.

Hirschi’s Social Bonds Theory (1969) links the onset of delinquency to the weakening of the ties that bind people to society, such as parents and teachers. Without social bonds, and in the absence of sensitivity to and interest in others, people are more willing to commit criminal acts. Moreover, people vary in how they respond to conventional social rules and values. Consequently, people whose bonds are weak may fall prey to criminogenic factors. Hirschi (1969) identifies four control variables: attachment, commitment, involvement, and belief. Thus, when youths are involved in pro-social socialization, positive activities, have positive relationships with significant others who are meaningful to them, or are committed to a specific goal or activity such as school, work, or something else of significant value, they are less willing to commit crime.

Self-concept is also an important factor in juvenile delinquency. Maladaptive social relations produce weak self-concepts and poor self-esteem; rendering youths at risk to delinquency. Moreover, youths who felt good about themselves and maintained a positive attitude were able to resist the temptations of the street. In addition, a positive self-image insulates an individual from the pushes and pulls of criminogenic forces.

Edwin Sutherland’s (1939) Differential Association Theory posits that criminal behavior is learned primarily within interpersonal groups and that youths will become delinquent if definitions they have learned favorable to violating the law exceeds definitions favorable to obeying the law within that group. Moreover, learning is a by-product of interaction and socialization; thus, criminal techniques are learned. Differential association may vary in duration, frequency, intensity, and priority. Depending on how long and how often the youth has interacted with the deviant group, will determine the likelihood of the youth becoming delinquent. In addition, how important the individuals and the goals sought are to the youth, of whom they are interacting with, will also determine the likelihood of the youth becoming delinquent.

Moreover, Howard Becker’s (1963) Labeling Theory posits that society creates deviance through a system of social control agencies that designate or labels certain individuals as delinquent, thereby stigmatizing them to accept this negative personal identity; thus, society reacts. There are consequences of labeling which should be analyzed in order to prevent crime and life-course persisters. The negative label and stigma of the designated label may cause permanent harm. Labeled people consider themselves as outcasts and may seek out others who are perceived as outcasts as well in order to feel more accepted. Therefore, the individual may become more enmeshed in a delinquent lifestyle through interaction, socialization, and learning techniques. Consequently, the degree to which a person is perceived as a social outcast may affect his or her treatment at home, work, school, and community. The manner and severity of the label and the perception of the person may increase their commitment to a deviant career; life course offending.

At risk youth are highly susceptible and vulnerable to the negative consequences of school failure, substance abuse, and early sexuality. According to Chilton and Galvin (1985), members of the lower class also suffer from various phenomena. Youths of the lower class are more prone to depression, apathy, cynicism, helplessness, and are less likely to put off immediate gratification for future gain, and have mistrust of social institutions. Consequently, delinquency is a statistically significant factor in lower class communities. Bjerk (2007) posits that the effects of income inequality, socio-economic status, racism, poverty, and stereotypes are the causes of youth crime and drug abuse. In addition, Bjerk (2007) posits that youths who are from poor households are more likely to get involved in serious crime, than youths who are from more affluent households.

According to Stouthamer-Loeber and Wei (1998), delinquency is the outcome of various social problems such as troubled home life, deviant friends, and that deviant cultural values lead to delinquency. However, Siegel and Welsh (2009) posit that problem behavior syndrome suggests that delinquency is one of many interrelated antisocial behaviors that cluster together and cause delinquency. Problem behavior syndrome may be caused by various phenomena such as: family dysfunction, sexual, physical, mental, and emotional abuse, substance abuse, smoking, promiscuity, and unemployment. Only a small percentage of juvenile delinquents become life course persisters. A cohort study conducted by Wolfgang suggests that only 6% of all juvenile delinquents become life course persisters (Walker, 2006). Most delinquents experience a turning point or a positive life experience which changes their outlook on life, and positively affects their behavior. Changes such as gaining employment, getting married, having a baby, joining the military, enrolling in school, or engaging in more pro-social activities that are positively valued by societal standards. These turning points have the ability to limit the opportunities to engage in delinquent behaviors.

Conclusion

Youths who are from lower class communities are more vulnerable to criminogenic forces than youths from more affluent neighborhoods (Siegel and Welsh, 2009). Delinquency and criminal techniques are learned via interpersonal groups and socialization. Therefore, in order to prevent crime, youths must be insulated from criminogenic forces. Social process theories analyze the social processes which take place within society and how these processes influence crime. In addition, social process theories focus on the social psychological processes and the interactions that people experience in their lives. Social structure theories posit that there should be more access to opportunities for those who may not experience them in their current circumstances, in order to prevent crime and delinquency. Consequently, socialization and social processes and social institutions influence crime and delinquency.

Siegel and Welsh (2009) posit that children who have been disciplined inconsistently tend to become delinquent. Therefore, not only is effective parenting important to properly socializing a child; consistent parenting and discipline is important, as well. The lessons and acceptable standards of behavior learned from effective parenting become the child’s social schema (Nairne, 1993), and they are able to refer back to these lessons and forms of discipline, which could insulate them from deviant behavior as adults. Social cognition is important in recognizing right from wrong behaviors, and may help an individual resist delinquent behavior.

In addition, children who have been abused and/or neglected tend to become delinquent. In fact, Hirschi (1969) posits that children with weak social bonds tend to become delinquent, as well. Seigel and Welsh (2009) posit that children who have been abused tend to experience mental and social problems across their lifespan. However, Sampson and Laub (1993) posit that repeated negative experiences can create cumulative disadvantage, whereby serious problems hinder life chances, employability, and social relations. People who have an increase in negative experiences, or cumulative disadvantages, are at risk of becoming a life course persister. Therefore, it is critical that parents develop positive and effective parenting skills.

Policy Implications

In order to reduce delinquency and crime, processes of socialization should be strengthened, focus should be placed on family, prevention, treatment, education, and diversion programs should be implemented and promoted. In addition, if behavior is learned, non-criminal, utilitarian behavior should be taught in various programs; for example, programs which discuss the harmfulness of drugs, how to avoid delinquent behavior, and how to stay in school. In order to prevent crime, youth must be engaged in more positive socialization activities, and have more access to opportunities which are positively valued in society.

References

Becker, Howard. (1963). “Outsiders”. The Free Press: Paris.

Bjerk, David. (2007). “Measuring the Relationship Between Youth Criminal Participation and

Household Economic Resources”, Journal of Quantitative Criminology 23:23-39.

Chilton, Roland & Galvin, Jim. (1985). “Race, Crime, and Criminal Justice”, Crime and Delinquency 31:3-14.

Glueck, Sheldon & Glueck, Eleanor (1934). “One Thousand Juvenile Delinquents”. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

Hirschi, Travis. (1969). Causes of delinquency. Berkeley: University of California Press.

Hirschi, Travis. & Michael R. Gottfredson. (1995). Control Theory and the Life-Course

Perspective. Studies on Crime and Crime Prevention, 4, 131-142.

Lilly, J. Robert, Cullen, Francis T., & Ball, Richard A. (2007). “Criminological Theory: Context

and Consequences (4^th ed). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

Nairne, James S. (2003). “Psychology: The Adaptive Mind”. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Centage.

Reckless, Walter C. (1967). The Crime Problem. 4^th ed. New York: Meredith.

Sampson, Robert and Laub, John. (1993). “Crime in the Making: Pathways and Turning Points

through Life. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

Siegel. L and Welsh, B. (2009). “Juvenile Delinquency: Theory, Practice, and Law”.

Belmont: CA: Wadsworth Cengage Learning.

Strouthamer-Loeber, Magda & Wei, Evelyn (1998). “The Precursors of Young Fatherhood and

Its Effect on Delinquency of Teenage Males”, The Journal of Adolescent Health 22:56-65.

Sutherland, Edwin (1939). “Principles of Criminology”. (3^rd ed). Philadelphia, PA: J.B. Lippincott Company.

Walker, Samuel. (2006). “Sense and Non-Sense About Crime and Drugs” (6^th ed). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Centage.

Self Control: Why Good Parenting Is Important

Hirschi (1969) makes the assumption that delinquents lack four variables of social bonds: attachment, commitment, involvement, and belief. Hirschi posits that low self control is established in early childhood as a result of poor parenting and lack of behavioral reinforcements. In addition, self-control is determined by the level of positive socialization that an individual experiences in early life and tends to follow them through their lifetime. Hirschi has found that individuals only need motivation in order to find excuses in favor of engaging in criminal acts. Immediate gratification with minimal risks of pain, are assumed to be a natural human instinct, and there is no need to search for explanations for crime. Hirschi (1969) suggests that the individual’s involvement in socialization, activities and conventional life and norms of behavior decreases their likelihood to commit crimes. Moreover, he suggests that the belief variable is an ideology based on how much an individual submits to or is willing to accept a conventional lifestyle and belief system with some degree of approval.

Furthermore, Gottfredson and Hirschi (1995) proposed that self control is the restraint that allows people to resist crime and other short-term gratification such as excitement, small amounts of money and relief from situational issues. It is suggested that low self-control is the outcome of a level of poor quality of parenting during a child’s early years of development and tends to persist throughout life. In addition to the quality of parenting that a child receives, levels of self-control are increased by effective school and environmental socialization and may be decreased by disorganization within the child’s community and surroundings. Moreover, low self-control is related to criminal involvement and describes the extent to which individuals are vulnerable to the temptations of the moment. Unnever, Cullen, and Agnew (2006) found that low self-control and aggressive attitudes not only both independently predict delinquency but also have a significant interactive effect on violent and nonviolent offending. “It appears that both low self-control and attitudes supportive of aggression (a social learning theory variable) are criminogenic risk factors” (Andrews & Bonta, 2003).

Without having a heightened level of self control at an early age, children tend to become adults with self control issues as well. We all know that when we are not able to control our behavior or are unable to resist certain things, it tends to get us into trouble. I hope that we all take heed of these theories, as they have been proven to be significant, however, are not accurate in all cases. Nevertheless, these are the theories that are used when policy makers create laws and punishments.

References:

Andrews, D.A. and James Bonta. (2003). The psychology of criminal conduct. 3^rd ed. Cincinnati, OH: Anderson.

Hirschi, Travis. (1969). Causes of delinquency. Berkeley: University of California Press.

Hirschi, Travis. & Michael R. Gottfredson. (1995). Control Theory and the Life-Course Perspective. Studies on Crime and Crime Prevention, 4, 131-142.

Unnever, James D., Frances T. Cullen and Robert Agnew. (2006). Why is “Bad” Parenting Criminogenic: Implications From Rival Theories. Youth Violence and Juvenile Justice, 4, 1-31.

WWW.CHANGE.ORG PETITIONS

I have added the links to a few petitions that are currently circulating on http://www.change.org. If you could take the time to sign them and to sign other petitions of interest that would be great!! Attached below, I have added petitions for Sandra Bland, Tamir Rice, a petition against a ban in Houston that makes it a crime to feed the homeless, and a petition for Congress to change the sentencing guidelines for convicted individuals of crime. Please take the time to sign them and add the link on your Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages. Let your voice and signature count and help others! It could easily be you, in any of these situations and you would want someone to help you. This is what us Sociologists call “veil of ignorance”. We should all operate under a “veil of ignorance”…meaning we should always make decisions for the greater good, and make these decisions from a point of view that is ignorant of the position we would hold in life. For instance, let’s say we would have to draw our lifestyles from a hat. Whatever is on that piece of paper is the life you have to live. If you draw from the hat, a piece of paper that says you’re an 80 year old homeless man, or a 6 year old gay boy, or a 25 year old multimillionaire, etc. you would be stuck with that position in life. Therefore, we should always make choices from under a “veil of ignorance” because we would never know how our life might turn out. We would all want a fair chance at life. So we should give others a fair chance as well. The petitions are below. Please feel free to add a link in the comments section for a petition that you would like for me or the readers to sign as well.

Sentencing Guidelines Petition
https://www.change.org/p/united-states-congress-support-the-smarter-sentencing-act/sign?utm_source=action_alert&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=354160&alert_id=OTodaYJJTL_qhyd3JvrLOwAYOEDpqtN5UtzPdGtok7hg1f%2FNJPlaEs%3D

Sandra Bland Petition
https://www.change.org/p/the-united-states-department-of-justice-attorney-general-loretta-lynch-take-over-the-investigation-into-the-death-of-sandra-bland-from-the-waller-county-texas-police-department?source_location=trending_petitions_home_page&algorithm=curated_trending

Tamir Rice Petition
https://www.change.org/p/cuyahoga-county-prosecutor-timothy-j-mcginty-file-charges-against-officers-timothy-loehmann-and-officer-frank-garmback?source_location=trending_petitions_home_page&algorithm=curated_trending

Houston Ban on Feeding the Homeless Petition
https://www.change.org/p/rescind-the-cruel-anti-homeless-feeding-bans?source_location=trending_petitions_home_page&algorithm=curated_trending

“True Knowledge of Self” (Poem)

Let the truth be self-evident.

Why can’t all people see it?

Black is black.

Black cannot be diluted to anything other than grey.

Still an inadmissible color…

True knowledge of self is what I have.

Never stricken with the disease of self pity…

Even when down, we are still the target of envy.

But why?

Why do people possess such hatred towards me?

Without even knowing me?

Am I too strong?

Am I too Black?

True knowledge of self is what I have.

God blessed me with the wisdom, strength, courage, and endurance to accomplish and surpass all things.

Even when I know I’m wrong for the things that I do…

I self-consciously correct me.

Society constantly rejects me.

But I always remember that I have the protection of Thee (higher self).

True knowledge of self is what I have.

A precious gift I wish I were able to pass along…

Too often, I hear too many people complaining about the wrong things…

Never trying to move beyond.

Yearning for things they don’t even need…

A man, woman, money, a nice car, a nice house, a flat screen…

All material things (consumption).

When will they realize what they need is true knowledge of self?

When will they escape their delusional realm?

True knowledge of self is what I have.

Once a person obtains it, grasps it…they can’t ever go back.

Back to the days where their soul was lost.

Back to the days they disrespected self.

And more…

True knowledge of self is what I have.

I’m not trying to brag or boast.

I’ve just come to realize during a point in my life that this was what I was lacking the most.

This was when I realized that the world was so cold.

Until that point, never in my life was I able to be so bold.

Now people ask me how can I walk around and act as if I don’t care about nothing.

Look…I care.

I have a heart.

I’m just surviving in this corrupt world trying to play my part.

You have to be smart.

(Wisdom over man-made ideology)…

True knowledge of self is what I have.

Until you realize what it means to be Black…

Your head will be in the sand.

Strong Black leaders in America are near non-existent nowadays and are in huge demand.

So play your part, if not for others…for self.

Isn’t that what life is all about anyway?

Self?

Love yourself!

Nurture yourself!

Educate yourself!

Respect yourself!

Pamper yourself!

Take care of your health!

And when all these bases are covered…

THEN…YOU, too, will also have true knowledge of self!

RESPECT AND KNOW SELF!

(Written September 19, 2006)

“Two of the Same” (Poem)

The struggle of a Black woman…

Everybody wants to talk about the struggle of the Black man.

But what about the Black woman?

Something like a sex symbol,

When will we be valued by our unique self-worth?

Black woman and Black man are equals.

We, too, have hard times..

We two have hard times…

We, too, are hungry, lacking love and protection.

We, too, have to struggle…

We two have to struggle.

(Written September 27, 2004).

Black Book List – Reading Club

If anyone would like to join a reading club that emails you FREE books regarding Black issues, history, knowledge, etc. Simply email: theblackbooklists@gmail.com and ask to be added to their mailing list. Each month you will receive an email with at least one book attached. Most of the times, I receive an email every month containing anywhere from 1-20 books every month. There are no obligations or requirements. The Black Book List is purely for the sake of knowledge. These aren’t mediocre books either. These are highly regarded books that are more than likely on your “To Do” list, if you are an avid reader or knowledge seeker. You can also follow them on Instagram at: @blackbooklist and on Twitter at: http://www.Twitter.com/blackbooklist.

Enjoy!

Foreword from “The Real Facts About Ethiopia”

“The chief danger to the white man arises tom his arrogant contempt for other races, a contempt which in America is mixed with fear and hate and which has provoked fear and hatred in return. Europeans have recently enjoyed a fair advantage over their rivals which they have abused without the slightest regard for justice and fair play. This advantage will not be theirs in the future” – Dean Inge (The White Man and His Rivals).

“You are forcing on the world the coming struggle between Asia, all of Asia against Europe and America…You are heaping up material for…a gigantic Day of Reckoning…You are deaf to the voice of reason and fairness and so you will be taught with the whirling swish of the sword when it is red”. – Achmed Abdullah

For the past four centuries the European, or white race, has been colonizing in all the lands of the darker races. Thanks to its superior developments in death-dealing implements and the marked difference in the color of its skin it was enabled to set itself off as a superior race and to indulge in an orgy of plunder, murder, and extermination. This happening in the very lands of the colored peoples wounded their pride, aroused their deepest hate, and created in the hearts of darker peoples, totally unknown to one another, a common hostility to white peoples.

For centuries this animosity slumbered like a volcano, bursting at times into revenge as in the attacks on missionaries; the Indian Mutiny; or the Zulu uprising. Then two events came to arouse a unifying consciousness – black Ethiopia’s defeat of white Italy in 1896, and colored Japan’s victory over Russia in 1905.

The growing resentment of the darker races against white supremacy stirred the far-seeing thinkers. White writers, hostile to the darker peoples as Putnam Weale, J.W. Gregory, Lothrop Stoddard, and Maurice Muret, and others friendly to them as Sir Harry Johnston, Jean Finot, Dean Inge and Sir Leo Money saw a conflict and even a war between the races. Colored writers as Achmed Abdullah of Afghanistan and W.E.B. DuBois of America have foreseen the same.

Whether this prediction will come true remains to be seen. But in this threat of Italy against Ethiopia another and very definite stage of color opposition to white injustice has been reached. In this unjustified aggression against the last stronghold of black civilization the darker peoples of the world see a challenge to their very existence.

These darker races outnumber the white four to one. Two of the three foremost nations of the world, Britain and France, are almost wholly dependent upon the cooperation of their colored subjects. Of the 500,000,000 people in the British Empire, 430,000,000 are colored. In the French empire 125,000,000 of the 170,000,000 are colored.

Of the 160,000,000 inhabitants of Africa, less than 3,000,000 are white. The sentiment of the white, or near-white North African, is anti-white and distinctly African. The blacks of Africa outnumber the whites 60 to 1, and in some sections a hundred to one.

From the poison of this universal color-line Britain will suffer the worst effect. This seems only just as she has been the first, the chief, and the strongest builder of the color-line. So firmly did Britain lay the foundations of this evil in the American colonies that centuries later it still defies all attacks of intelligence, common sense, and humanity. So thoroughly did Britain teach her offspring, the United States, the lesson of racial discrimination and exploitation that the United States with her lynchings and burning-alive of black people, was, prior to Mussolini’s threat against Ethiopia, the foremost agent in keeping alive the resentment of the colored races against the white – the foremost in keeping open the old wounds of race hate.

A war in Africa, whichever way it goes, will be disastrous in Britain. If Ethiopia wins it will stir the pride of the African and urge him to oust the whites; if Ethiopia loses it will stir revenge and the effect will be the same. The 320,000,000 dark-skinned people of India will be similarly affected, now or later.

Whatever be the outcome of the threatened Italian aggression against Ethiopia the world consciousness of the darker races against white exploitation has been intensified and will not subside. As General Hertzog has said it seems that a deeper and more cruel era of hate, ill-will, and war than the world has ever known is about to begin. The avalanche is on its way and it will not stop until the last vestiges of the brutal and debasing color line imposed on the world by the white race shall have been shattered into irretrievable fragments.

One hears much about a union of English speaking peoples to ensure world peace and brotherhood. The first step towards any such goal would have to be a union of Britain and America to wipe out their cruel color line. Unless they do this, there will never be any peace until they meet the inevitable end of the unjust and oppressive nations.

We want no more wars, economic or racial. End color discrimination.

References:

Rogers, J.A. (1982). The Real Facts About Ethiopia. Baltimore, MD: Black Classic Press.

Soul Searching

Do you ever come in from a night out at a club or a party and think to yourself, “Why did I even waste my time going there”? It’s because you are looking for something outside of yourself to make you feel good on the inside. Sometimes people go partying just to feel the “love”. Just to be around people who are happy to see them and give them hugs and dap, or whatever. When you find yourself continuously feeling empty once the night is over, it’s time to do some soul searching. It’s time to start thinking critically about what you want and expect from life. It’s time to start changing the way you think, so that you can change the way you live. You are obviously wanting something more, that isn’t being fulfilled. Search your soul and find answers to your energy.

Justice or Else!

Is anyone planning to attend the Justice or Else rally on October 10, 2015, in Washington D.C.? If so, how to you plan to get there? Plane, car, train, bus, etc? How have you planned to avoid traffic? How have you planned to keep yourself safe while attending? What have you planned to do upon arrival to D.C.? Have you thought about all of the possibilities and repercussions that may arise by attending? Are you willing to lose your job? Family? Friends? Have you thought that you, yourself, may end up being a victim of police brutality while attending? Did you know that guns are illegal in D.C. so you shouldn’t bring one? There will be several check points and extra tight security all over D.C. and its surrounding areas during this time. Don’t be a victim of not being aware of the gun laws. There are several what if scenarios that I suggest you think about before attending the rally so that you can be prepared for what you are about to experience.

What Are Social Costs? What Does Build and Destroy Mean?

Some of you may see the headline of my blog and think to yourself, “What are social costs”? Social costs are the total costs to a society. For example, let’s say there becomes a new law where you cannot leave your children, aged 18 and under, home alone without parental supervision. The social costs of this new law would be that parents would lose their jobs because they aren’t able to go to work and leave their children at home. Therefore, this family will probably go without food, will probably lose their home, the parents will become stressed, depressed, and may develop mental health problems. Being that this parent is unemployed, the state will have to cover their medical expenses for seeking help for their mental health problems, depression, etc. Moreover, these children will probably experience the same issues and will in turn, do poorly in school or reflect adverse behavior while amongst their peers. Social costs are basically “trickle down” effects of social phenomena.

What does build and destroy mean? It means that you can choose to either build and share information with others by way of uplifting them, motivating them, changing their perception for the better, providing them with knowledge, wisdom, understanding, and making them more whole as an individual on various levels: mentally, physically, emotionally, intellectually, etc. Destroy means the opposite. It means to tear down. You can either build or destroy people with your words. Get it? In addition, it means to tear down any perceptions, information, or knowledge that is not true and to give it light.

I hope that you will consider these two concepts while reading my blog posts and in your responses to my blogs and to each other.