Comments on: Framing Children’s Deviance

By: betsy santos

betsy santos — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 21:11:00 +0000

Super late comment, but notice how this framing carries into the titles of the videos themselves?

The white boy is a “driver”.
The black boy “took the car on a joyride”.

By: Dave

Dave — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 21:16:11 +0000

Yes, let’s follow Joanna’s and Byron’s ideas to their logical conclusion, shall we? We need a set of indicators that show the chances at birth that a child will grow up to be a criminal. Maybe the personalities of the caretakers and parents. Perhaps other social indicators like which neighborhood the kid will grow up in. After we’ve determined if the kid, when grown will be a substantial “public safety” risk, we can either monitor him from the cradle or just take him away to live with a “wholesome” family. Eh?

Why don’t we do more research on genetically enhanced anti-social tendencies, and if a link between criminal behavior and genetics is found, why not just abort the kid?

By: Dave

Dave — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 21:00:54 +0000

There was nothing sarcastic or patronizing in that reply.

By: Framing Children’s Deviance | Love Isn't Enough - on raising a family in a colorstruck world

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 09:17:30 +0000

[...] Written by Love Isn’t Enough guest contributor Lisa; originally published at Sociological Images [...]

By: Dali Monroe

Dali Monroe — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 02:37:05 +0000

No offense to Joanna, but I do believe that you had mentioned that you were “confused” these individuals are attempting to build on dialogue. Which is why they allow for such forums. So that we may broaden our understanding on the given topic by healthy debate, tossing around Ideas and shining light on “confusing” content. It actually sounds like you are confused but not regarding your stance. What you are regarding as assumption (race.. Experience..) are all general statements and honestly I see that you’re a smart woman. Although, I also fear that you may be jumping into something based on personal passion and opinion which is fine coupled with the right research there is a book call “All gods children” its about the history of male blacks in america. It touches on the system, the history and the stereotypes that steer behavioral patterns. This article runs so much deeper than a seven year old driving a car. Also, I believe that what you are saying about this child can only be classified as an assumption and you of all people. I know I’m being sarcastic; but please give your opinion without passing such harsh judgment. Pre-sociopath behavior. I am so glad I’m not this child’s grandmother reading this. I’m sorry but How dare you! You make ignorance sound eloquent which is sad. Actually, I am offended first and foremost by your arrogance. Secondly, that you would have the audacity to say we DON’T have the right to suggest that the Media (known for its manipulating angles on reporting the news and setting the stage of relevance regarding what us as a society should view as a posing threat) is “framing” these incidents yet you have the right to predict that this seven year old child (known for emulating behavior, watching saturday morning cartoons and playing video games) is showing Sociopath behavior. Are you able to make such an accurate observation by watching a clip? If so I bet the Central Intelligence Bureau could really use you. He is a child what he is taught to be cool he will think is cool. He needs direction not condemnation. His actions caused more damage and it could have been fatal but given the right situation curiosity can also be fatal. He is seven I’m sure he could not see over the dash board, hit the pedal and control his steering at the same time. Maybe there were more objects around to hit. None this condones the behavior but yes it is the same. How strategic is the “Maneuvering” of any seven year old behind the wheel. Come on seriously. Don’t be blind. No matter what you choose to believe there are such deeply rooted systems of oppression set up and in play in our society and whether you except it or not without self education your only dangling on the strings of theirs.

By: links for 2010-08-04 « Embololalia

links for 2010-08-04 « Embololalia — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 18:03:00 +0000

[...] Framing Children’s Deviance » Sociological Images But there is good evidence that people, beginning as children, internalize the stereotypes that others have of them. As Ann Ferguson shows in her book, Bad Boys: Public Schools in the Making of Black Masculinity, black children, especially boys, are stereotyped as pre-criminals; not adorably naughty, like white boys, but dangerously bad from the beginning. (tags: children men race african-americans stereotypes) [...]

By: anonymous

anonymous — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 04:33:50 +0000

I saw these two videos, and I felt that the difference in venues had something to do with the demeanor of the kids. Both kids are too young to really understand the consequences, but Preston was put in a room after preparation by and strict supervision from his parents.
In the other video – Latarian is interviewed seemingly away from them. Were they edited out? They seem to be in a shot as the police were coming to visit, though they speak directly with him and don’t really acknowledge his family (mother out of frame, not acknowledged, grandmother in another shot altogether). Of course it’s going to seem like the state needs to put him in the system when there’s not a single shot of him interacting with his family!

I knew kids like this – look at the way the boy talks about his friend (” – and then I suddenly had my friend come in, and he smokes real cigarettes”) – in my opinion, he’s playing up his toughness for the camera because he doesn’t understand the situation. What do you think the other boy would say if he were just on the street with a camera? How much would he have said if nobody answered for him?

By: Uly

Uly — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 21:25:54 +0000

Great. So, uh, why didn’t the white kid get this response?

By: Race And Joy Riding 7yr olds « QueerKitten

Race And Joy Riding 7yr olds « QueerKitten — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 12:54:36 +0000

[...] The commentary on the blog is great so definately have a read and watch the videos. [...]

By: Katherine

Katherine — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 21:18:29 +0000

The tone argument. If you’re angry about something you get told you should be nicer. If you’re nice and calm about something you get told to stop being sarcastic/patronising. You can’t win (but I suspect you know this).

On another note I’ve got to love people pointing out other stuff that the black kid did *after* this as though it should affect how the media treated him in this case.

By: lisa

lisa — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 20:06:23 +0000

Yikes! Stupid mistake! Thank you SO MUCH for the correction. I’m fixing it now.

By: Amy

Amy — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 19:53:21 +0000

Really interesting post. I just wanted to point out that the Ann Ferguson linked to near the end is not the same one who wrote the book _Bad Boys_. The link is to Ferguson, the philosopher at UMass. The book was written by Ferguson, the Afro-American Studies professor at Smith.

By: T

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 15:52:13 +0000

Nothing ‘manipulative’ or ‘patronizing’ about it…. your comments are generally thoughtful. This comment was just dickish and added nothing. But that’s OK.

By: Ames

Ames — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 14:24:59 +0000

What an amazingly manipulative and patronizing comment, T. You have obviously missed all my comments where I call trolls out for being trollish. Your concern trolling is hereby called out. Piss off.

By: Tab dump « of Heart and Mind

Tab dump « of Heart and Mind — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 20:34:25 +0000

[...] Framing children’s deviance, in which the coverage of Latarian Milton (the seven year old of “hoodrat stuff with my friends” fame) is contrasted with that of a white child’s similar car-driving spree. [...]