Examining Violence in the African American Community: Culture, Conditions and Conflict Resolution Theories

By

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would first like to express my gratitude for my research supervisor, colleagues, and peers and family whose immense and constant support has been a source of continuous guidance and inspiration.

DECLARATION

I [type your full first names & surname here], declare that the following dissertation/thesis and its entire content has been an individual, unaided effort and has not been submitted or published before. Furthermore, it reflects my opinion and take on the topic and is does not represent the opinion of the University.

ABSTRACT

The contemporary American society is regularly fed news, documentaries and movies that report violent behavior among African-Americans. The primary goal of this paper is to offer prevention, policy, and research agendas based on the structural-cultural perspective. Our study aims to find out the cause for such behavior from a social, cultural and structural perspective. The study also aims to find out the strategies that could be effective for adequate conflict resolution in the long run. There needs to be a pragmatic and multi-disciplinary approach for conflict resolution. Community needs to advance the cause with important moral and financial support. An effective program that focuses on conflict resolution needs to be formed. Self-esteem and confidence need to be inculcated in the society. Rigorous efforts needs to be maintained for the adolescents since they are most-prone to violence and are passing a very critical stage in their life. Prejudice and racial discrimination needs to put to an end. Hate crimes must be dealt severely. The rate of African-American inclusion in the society is not due to any genetically-triggered factor. It is more or less an outcome of the conditions that characterize the existence of most African-Americans in the American society. For this, the two main reasons are poverty and unemployment.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTII

DECLARATIONIII

ABSTRACTIV

I: INTRODUCTION1

Background of the Research1

Quest for Self-Definition5

Rationale8

Aims of the Study9

Research Questions9

Research Significance9

Dissertation Outline10

II: LITERATURE REVIEW12

The Subculture of Violence Theory12

The Structural - Cultural Explanation of Causation17

Cultural Explanations of Violence25

Early Cultural Explanations25

Conclusion31

III. METHODOLOGY32

The Research Process32

Data Synthesis33

Search Technique34

Literature Search34

Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria35

Additional Online Searches35

Search Rationale35

Critical Appraisal Tool36

Ethical Concern36

Reliability/Dependability37

Validity38

IV.VICTIMIZATION40

Racism42

V.PREVENTION, POLICY AND RESEARCH48

Cultural Differences in Conflict Resolution48

Role of Education50

REFERENCES67

I: INTRODUCTION

Background of the Research

According to Barnett (1997), violence is termed as a major epidemic and a fast growing concern for the authorities of the United States. Various studies in the past have shown that violence is more common in the African American communities than in any other race. This particular racial group has always been associated with violence-related crimes. However, what is leading towards such repetitive group behavior needs to be studied properly and the historical basis for such a situation needs to be carefully reviewed.

African Americans have been overlooked in the past and have been the victims of many social injustices like feeling of isolation, and inadequate education that subsequently leaded towards poverty and later crime. Poverty has been transferred from one generation to another; leading to the formation of an underprivileged and underrepresented socioeconomic class. This transference of poverty and crime has facilitated ...