Celebrating the Strengths of Black Youth: Increasing Self-Esteem and Implications for Prevention

Summary

The purpose of the study was to determine the impact of motivation on the African American youths by their respective families and the entire black population. The researchers noted that the children of color have been empowered to promote their racial identity, self-esteem as well as the parental racial socialization messages. The research article indicates that African American community in the US has shown their potential for self-determination. According to Okeke-Adeyanju, Taylor, Craig, Smith, Thomas, Boyle, and DeRosier (2014), they consider themselves as superior as the whites and not a minority group, as has been initially perceived. This has been achieved by using the black children through various movements including the school activities in which they are trying to inform the whole American community that they are a cultural group with unique activities of which they are proud. As much they are living in the Western they are willing to trace their racial identity and would be willing to be recognized just as the other distinguished groups (Okeke-Adeyanju, Taylor, Craig, Smith, Thomas, Boyle & DeRosier, 2014).

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The study revealed that the participation of the black individuals including their families had a great impact in influencing their children in promoting their self-identity in the United States. According to Hall (2010), the youths have used various means like the social media to show their pride for their identity in the country. Fortunately, their activities have been encouraged by the other African American individuals and families who consider themselves with a significant level of dignity. It, therefore, follows that they have strived to ensure they that they are granted the opportunity for self-determination. They have afterwards proved that they have a positive self-image. The article showed that the African American individuals and families appreciated themselves rather than trying to be like the whites. Besides, they stick to their choice of regarding their racial identity in a positive way. Furthermore, the blacks are not easily influenced by what the whites do as they appear to understand and recognize their mission as a unique racial group in the US.

Message: The idea that the African Americans have negative self-image was based on a negative attitude towards a cultural group which the researchers associated with inferiority. The current research has shown that African American individuals and families have a positive self-image.

References

Hall, G.C.N. (2010). Multicultural psychology (2nd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall

Okeke-Adeyanju, N., Taylor, L., Craig, A., Smith, R., Thomas, A., Boyle, A., & DeRosier, M. (2014). Celebrating the Strengths of Black Youth: Increasing Self-Esteem and Implications for Prevention. The Journal Of Primary Prevention, 35(5), 357-369. Doi: 10.1007/s10935-014-0356-1