Racial Socialization Among Black College Students: A Test of the Theory of African American Offending

• In Event: Community Contexts of Race, Ethnicity, Victimization and Offender

Abstract

In 2011, Dr. James Unnever and Dr. Shaun Gabbidon presented a Theory of African American Offending, which, among other things, posited that African American offending is motivated in part by common experiences of racism. They argue that these experiences prompted a shared worldview that includes an accumulation of bad feelings toward pro-social institutions and legal cynicism towards the justice system, leading to decreased social bonds and a greater predilection towards delinquency. Racial socialization was presented as a way to mitigate this relationship. Previous studies have found support for this theory, but most have examined the connection between female caregivers and their children. The current study examines the relationship between male caregivers and their sons by examining a sample of black male college students at the University of Cincinnati. Implications of the findings for black criminology and for future examinations of criminal motivations among black offenders are presented and discussed.

Authors

• Iman Said, Pennsylvania State University

• Ben Feldmeyer, University of Cincinnati