Carl Suddler Bücher

This examination reveals the deliberate criminalization of black youths from the 1930s to the present, highlighting a stark disparity in their experiences within the justice system compared to their white peers. Black youths are often perceived as older and less innocent, with race overshadowing class in matters of incarceration. Despite black youths articulating their experiences with carceral authorities, many Americans remain unaware of the ongoing inequalities. The author illuminates the historical policies and strategies that have tethered black youths to the justice system. The criminalization of black youth is deeply rooted in its racial origins. By the mid-twentieth century, the U.S. justice system shifted from rehabilitation to punishment, with black teens disproportionately affected by this transition. In New York City, heightened surveillance of predominantly black communities led to increased arrest rates post-World War II, justifying tough-on-crime policies. Questionable police practices, such as stop-and-frisk, alongside media sensationalism, reinforced the belief that black youth were a primary concern. Even before the War on Crime, it was evident that race would remain a critical factor in American perceptions of crime and delinquency, leaving black youths stigmatized and facing the overwhelming power of the state.