Such an amazing book. Victor Rios brings to light the challenges that marginalized youth face in urban areas. Challenges.. that crush these kids sense of self worth and any hope of achieving a life outside of crime. His research follows the lives of 40 boys in the gang infested areas of Oakland, California. He exposes a debilitating punitive system that places unjust discriminating stigmas on these boys at a very young age. In most cases.. prior to them ever having any involvement with crime. In fact several had never actually committed crimes but were treated as if they had.. simply by association due to circumstances beyond their control or because of how they looked. Behaviors commonly seen as that of a normal adolescent are instead interpreted as criminal behavior resulting in harsh punishments and berating by authority figures involved in the daily lives of these kids. Thus beginning the process of breaking down the potential for these boys to ever succeed in having a "normal" life in society. A life where they have the same rights as others to go to school, vote or simply obtain a job. When everywhere they turn they are faced with condemnation even when they are attempting to do the "right" thing determined by mainstream society or are being provoked to the point of having the primal response of retaliating to obtain the slightest sense of control over their fate... Dr. Rios tells how these boys while feeling broken and devalued.. become determined to have a sense of empowerment and belonging... and develop their own (many times detrimental) methods to obtaining some dignity as human beings or as "a man" even if it means giving up their chances to live in a free society. I say "primal response" because after reading the many stories of the unwarranted treatment of these kids.. I can't help but picture in my mind a scene of a dog being beaten by it's owner who out of desperation eventually attempts to bite back only to be faced with more brutality.
Dr. Rios proposes an alternative system called the "Youth Support Complex". Unlike the criminal justice system called the "Youth Control Complex" currently in place that criminalizes marginalized youth and sets them on a path to a life of incarceration.. his program sets out to promote compassion and understanding for these youth to help improve the quality of their lives and support their reintegration back into society as productive citizens.
It is a must read for all who are involved in the daily lives of our youth. Hopefully it will promote compassion and a deeper look into the individual child and his/her circumstances.
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