The Development of Political Orientations among Black and White Children

Abstract

Recent research suggests that, with socioeconomic differences held constant, black adults are more disaffected and active politically than their white counterparts; yet, this same research neglects to specify the timing and location of these differences. The present study undertakes this task, attempting to discover whether the differences in political orientation between blacks and whites is found among children as well. The results convincingly demonstrate that such differences are found among very young children as well as teenagers: for example, among children who are 9, 10 and 11 years old, black youngsters are consistently the more cynical and informed politically. An effort to isolate the general origins of these differences, moreover, suggests the viability of a subcultural as opposed to a psychodynamic hypothesis.