We should live in a country or society where young children are all viewed the same in how they are identified and treated, However, that is proving to be an erroneous assumption when it comes to how Black children, especially Black boys, are often looked upon. Time has shown us again and again that Black boys as young as 13 are more often than not viewed and judged as adults when it comes to how they are portrayed in our society—especially by the criminal justice system. No matter the severity of the crime their young White counterparts may be guilty of, Caucasian boys are usually viewed as children playing on the leniency of a court system that all too often shows us that they are partial to that race.
While our country is quick to argue the innocence and naiveté of young White boys, Black boys are all too often viewed as vicious, menacing and as corrupt as any man accused of a felonious crime. The ‘adultification’ bias against young Black boys helps fuel the ‘pipeline to prison’ for young Black boys. It’s a lucrative business as well as a well devised operation to decimate and destroy the Black family by removing the potential Black man from the home.
Our country does not view young Black boys in the same light as young White boys. It uses every way possible to display young Black boys in a monolithic view as much older than their appearance, usually with the propensity for harboring an aggressive crime driven agenda. Young Black boys have been painted to be three to four years older in appearance than their actual age by the media, which may account for the criminal justice system rationalization in treating these boys as adults in many cases.
There is no excuse for engaging in criminal activity, but America has systemically created communities where poverty is so pervasive that children (specifically, Black young boys) are denied a happy carefree childhood and forced to grow up quickly, with many gravitating to illegal activities to help support their families. Many young Black boys dwell in one-parent homes without a father present. They then feel forced to take on a financial role as the missing father.
Even in homes where mothers are raising young boys alone, the absence of the discipline and guidance a father can bring is forcing young boys to grow up quickly—taking on the role as the head of the household. These young boys (although they are literally children) are painted as adults with all the responsibilities that come with being an adult. These young Blacks boys often are forced into engaging in criminal activities, which causes them to be viewed as victimizers. But they are, in truth, victims or pawns in a system that promotes inequality and racism.
Adultification, unfortunately, contributes to many young Black boys thinking they are ballers running the show. However, they are only puppets and pawns eventually destined to be eliminated or brought down. Putting children in the position of being an adult at an early age is cruel and inhumane. But it is the reality in many economically disadvantaged Black households with missing fathers.
Young Black boys deemed as adults are reminders that this country has a long way to go in eliminating racial inequality and, poverty. Poverty may be seen by many as the main factor contributing to why some Black children (usually Black boys) are literally forced to take on the role of helping to financially support their families. If America provided true equality and financial opportunities to all families, then these young Black boys would not experience the stress of growing up too soon, trying to be the missing fathers in their homes.
We need to change the perception of how Black boys are viewed. We need more positive, productive, successful Black men volunteering to mentor our young Black boys, offering them options and guidance that may be missing from biological fathers not in the homes. Young Black boys should not have the stress and added responsibility of heading households because of absent fathers who may not be in the home because of incarceration.
There is a time to be a child and a time to be an adult. Let us help our young Black boys enjoy the precious time of being a child while they can. We may not be able to change racism or the economical systems affecting so many Black families any time soon, but we can educate our children about the ills in society, hoping they can someday be advocates bringing about positive change. Adultification is unfortunate, but we can teach our young Black boys how to be wiser—hopefully avoiding being a victim of our criminal justice system.
