Cultural themes in rites of passage: Voices of young African American males

Abstract

In recent years, our society has begun to take a closer look at the plight of urban adolescent African American males. This population has come under close scrutiny because of the seemingly pervasive negativity they face on a daily basis. Hill (1992) candidly punctuated the negative forces that are taking their toll on young African American males in cities across the country. Black males, particularly adolescents in urban areas, have been a vulnerable group in relation to such destructive activities as substance abuse and gang involvement (Wright & Anderson, 1998; Hill, 1992). Families in crisis add more gloom to this picture as many of these adolescent males are in various out-of-home placements. Frustration and confusion abound for these youth as they grapple with low self-esteem and a bruised sense of ethnic identity. The increase in substance abuse and violent behavior among today 's adolescents could be l inked to society 's underutilization of Rites of Passage (Blumenkrantz & Gavazzi, 1993; Campbell & Moyers 1988). Informal indicators of adulthood such as drinking, promiscuous sexual behavior, and gang involvement serve as socially proscribed transit ional markers (Quinn, Newfield, & Protinsky, 1985; Hill, 1992). Contemporary Rites of Passage (RITES) that are culturally specific in design denounce such self-defeating behaviors and promote pro-social and pro-familial lifestyles. Such programming