“I was all-state in four sports in New Jersey, but sometimes I couldn't get served at a restaurant two blocks from my high school. There were no job opportunities then... the only thing a black youth could aspire to be was a bellboy or a pullman or an elevator operator, or, maybe, a teacher. There was a time when all we had was black baseball.” TwoSometimesStatesSchoolJobsOpportunitySportsBlackTeacherFourYouthHigh SchoolBaseballBlockRestaurantsAspireJerseyNew JerseyElevatorsOperatorsAll StateJob OpportunitiesBlack Youth Author:Monte Irvin
“What good does it do a black youth to know that an employer must pay him $2 an hour if the fact that he must be paid that amount is what keeps him from getting a job?” IfsKnowsDoeFactsJobsBlackHoursPayYouthAmountPaidEmployersBlack Youth Book:Economics Source: Economics
“Even when black youth gangs target white strangers on the streets and spew out racial hatred as they batter them and rob them, mayors, police chiefs and the media tiptoe around their racism and many in the media either don't cover these stories or leave out the race and racism involved.” StoriesBlackWhiteRaceStreetsMediaYouthInvolvedRacismHatredPoliceStrangerChiefsTargetGangMayorsTiptoesBlack Youth Author:Thomas Sowell
“Identity has several parts, and the self needs to expand. Black youth should be encouraged to have as many parts or as rich an identity as possible. It's a form of allowing them to be curious about the world.” WorldNeedsShouldSelfFormBlackRichIdentityYouthCuriousAllowingBe EncouragedBlack Youth Author:Darryl Pinckney
“Plenty of drug dealing does happen in the 'hood, but it happens everywhere else in America as well. In fact, some studies suggest that where significant differences in the data can be found, white youth are more likely to engage in illegal drug dealing than black youth.” WellsDoeFactsHappensAmericaFoundBlackDifferencesWhiteStudyYouthDrugSignificantPlentyDataIllegalHoodIllegal DrugsBlack Youth Author:Michelle Alexander
“Body piercing and baggy clothes express identity among black youth, and not just beginning with hip-hop culture. Moreover, young black entrepreneurs like Sean 'P. Diddy' Combs and Russell Simmons have made millions from their clothing lines.” MadeBodyYoungCultureBlackLinesMillionsIdentityYouthClothesEntrepreneurHip HopHipsHopsClothingsSeanPiercingsCombsBlack YouthClothing LineBaggy Clothes Author:Michael Eric Dyson
“Hip hop music is important precisely because it sheds light on contemporary politics, history, and race. At its best, hip hop gives voice to marginal black youth we are not used to hearing from on such topics.” GivingImportantLightUsedBlackVoiceRaceYouthMusic IsHip HopHearingContemporaryHipsHopsShedTopicsHip Hop MusicBlack Youth Book:Know What I Mean?: Reflections on Hip Hop Source: Know What I Mean?: Reflections on Hip Hop