Pepper spray incident prompts discussion about ‘adultification’ of Black youth

The recent pepper spraying of a 9-year-old girl at the hands of Rochester police is leading to a conversation about the “adultification” of Black youth.

Dr. Elizabeth Murray explains adultification as treating children like they have adult qualities. She cites a recent study that found adults perceive Black children as needing less support, being more independent, needing less nurturing and being more independent than white children of the same age.

Dr. Murray joined us on Good Day Rochester to explain the findings of the study and the implications of those findings, and how they’re especially relevant to what’s happening in Rochester.

For more information and resources, Dr. Murray recommends visiting The Children’s Agenda online