A theoretical framework is offered that addresses the limitations of mainstream structural theories and the colonial model in explaining high rates of crime and violence among African American youth. The neocolonial model analyzes the effects of race, social class, and the interactive effect of these variables on structural experiences and illustrates how these factors affect attitudes and behaviors. Making both inter- and intragroup comparisons, the perspective posits that lower-class African American youth, especially males, are at most risk of selecting violent and criminal responses.
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