Sheriff's Deputies Handcuff Girl, 11, After Mistaking Her for Suspect

[Solly Mack]

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Study: Cops Tend to See Black Kids as Less Innocent Than White Kids


Asked to identify the age of a young boy that committed a felony, participants in a study routinely overestimated the age of black children far more than they did white kids. Worse: Cops did it, too.

The study, published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, aimed at figuring out the extent to which black children were likely to be treated differently than their white peers solely based on race. More specifically, the authors wanted to figure out the extent to which black kids were dehumanized.

Adultification of Black children negatively impacts their health


Adultification is the term used to define how Black children are viewed as older than they are. Systemic racism has forced Black children into social, emotional, and physical adult roles before they are adults, contributing to adultification. Pediatric and family health care providers must be knowledgable of the harms of adultification bias and that the factor of intersectionality, for example, children who are Black and female, or Black with a disability, enhances bias. Recognition of adultification by health care providers may improve the health and wellness of Black children.