NCJ Number
97465
Date Published
1985
Length
24 pages
Annotation
The disproportionate level of crime and violence among blacks in America can best be understood by examining the history of the black experience and the interaction among black families and primary, secondary, and tertiary social networks over time; this examination suggests which corrective approaches might work.
Abstract
Neither getting tough nor providing opportunities for blacks will completely address the problem, because our thinking about crime and violence has tended to focus on root causes rather than on multiple interacting factors. However, the family and social networks are the major factors in developing the coping skills that reduce the likelihood of crime and violence to a manageable level. Analysis of the black experience over time shows how slavery destroyed the family, social networks, and institutions that had existed for the slaves in West African society. After the abolition of slavery, blacks were denied educational and economic opportunities. In recent times, social policies such as welfare and economic development programs have not taken advantage of the critical adaptive function of the black church and other black community organizations. Reducing violence among blacks will require a significant change in societal understanding, attitudes, policies, and practices. Policies must recognize the need to rely on families and their support systems. They must also rest on explicit understanding of the negative consequences of past public and private policies. Strategies needed are a national family program and efforts to restore a sense of community among blacks. All programs must have a significant black community input. Fifteen notes are supplied.