Black Early Adolescent Critical Reflection of Inequitable Sociopolitical Conditions: A Qualitative Investigation

In this study, we investigate how Black early adolescents describe the influence of systems and individuals on sociopolitical conditions in their schools, neighborhoods, and communities. Scholars suggest critical reflection of sociopolitical conditions, an analysis that considers the role of institutional and systemic bias on the social conditions of marginalized groups, promotes long-term civic engagement to address those inequitable conditions. Through a qualitative investigation (N = 36) we find Black early adolescents engage in critically reflective discourse regarding their sociopolitical environment and consider both system and individual attributions for problems in and solutions for their schools and communities. These early adolescents consider their own role in constructing positive change as well as the roles of public servants, parents, and community members. Taken together, this research broadens our understanding of the capacity for racially marginalized early adolescents to engage in analysis of systematic bias and individual responsibility in relation to inequitable social conditions in their schools and communities.