NCJ Number
163765
Journal
ACJS (Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences) Today Volume: 15 Issue: 1 Dated: (May/June 1996) Pages: 1,3,9
Date Published
1996
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This article examines various issues that bear upon the involvement of African-American criminologists in a theoretical enterprise dominated by European-American criminologists.
Abstract
The authors note that the enterprise of criminological theory development is largely centered in eurocentric and androcentric values; hence, both the object and content of criminological theory have focused on the criminal behavior of the more vulnerable populations and are generally culturally biased. Such theory tends to be ahistorical and indifferent to racism and the experiences of disenfranchised populations. African-American criminologists can help overcome these pitfalls of theory development. African-American criminologists, because of their distinctive backgrounds, can provide input on the structural factors influenced by racism and economic disparities. African-American criminologists should also be given a greater voice in the determination of the research agendas of funding agencies that tend to favor eurocentric research priorities. Although African-Americans are often the targets of research and are disproportionately affected by social policy, African- American criminologists are infrequently involved in outlining research priorities of policy and program development. Further, there are indications that the educational qualifications of African-American criminologists are devalued by white criminologists and that historically black colleges and universities are viewed by white criminologists as failing to produce the same quality of graduates produced by predominantly white colleges and universities. The authors also discuss the tendency of criminologists in general, both black and white, to focus on career development within the context of the teaching profession rather than on direct involvement in programs and activities that influence positive community development. 6 references