It seems that every few weeks the nation is rocked by the news of another death of an unarmed African-American male at the hands of police. Unfortunately, incidents of this type are not new in the life experiences of African-American men. Moreover, the incidents occur in the midst of other troubling health and social conditions that limit the productive participation of men and boys of color in family and civic life. For example, men of color overall have lower life expectancies than whites; African-American and Latino males are six times more likely to be victims of murder; American Indian males have the highest suicide rates; and African-American men are more likely to be incarcerated, unemployed and exposed to more childhood adversity.
In an effort to address such problems, in 2014 President Obama created the My Brother's Keeper initiative to improve the life outcomes of boys and young men of color, as well as of other young people. In May, the president launched a continuation of this effort — the My Brother's Keeper Alliance, an independent nonprofit that will fund programs that foster the growth of black and Latino boys.
APA also works in myriad ways to help improve the life chances of boys and men of color. In March, for example, as part of the White House My Brother's Keeper initiative, APA teamed with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to host "Pathways to Behavioral Health Equity: Addressing Disparities Experienced by Boys and Men of Color" (see the May Monitor for conference coverage). At the conference, community activists and a multidisciplinary group of scholars presented data illuminating the many challenges facing boys and men of color. We learned, for example, that:
- PTSD, trauma and co-morbid psychiatric disorders occur in more than 90 percent of detained youth, with over 50 percent reporting over six traumatic events.
- Perceptions of masculinity greatly influence the behavior of boys and men of color.
- Violent hate crimes against racial/ethnic minorities increased between 2004–12, especially against Latinos.
- Young boys of color show greater depression than girls of all ethnicities.
- African-American boys, as early as preschool, are more likely to be "pushed" out of schools because of expulsions, suspensions and lack of engagement.
The conference also informed us about several programs and interventions that are making a difference in the lives of boys of color. For example, Higher Hopes Inc., founded by psychologist Bruce Purnell, is a community organization that combines evidence-based psychological principles with creative arts to prepare boys and young men to make good choices.
APA is committed to social justice and to changing the systems and policies that create disparities in health and life opportunities and outcomes. Leveling the playing field for boys and men of color will require tackling many deeply ingrained perceptions and beliefs about men of color and supporting strategies that will be most responsive to their needs and that ultimately will benefit us all.
APA's work in this area includes our hosting a Capitol Hill briefing aimed at addressing community policing and the role that psychology can play in building trust between police and communities. In addition, APA's Health Disparities Initiative has a working group on health disparities among underserved boys and men. The group is preparing recommendations to improve research, interventions, services and policies. APA has also met twice with congressional staff to discuss the issues and the need for greater awareness and responsive policies.
We are proud of our work to help boys and men of color live long, healthy and productive lives. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with SAMHSA and welcome opportunities to work with others.
