Experiences of Discrimination among African American, Asian American, and Latino Adolescents in an Urban High School

Abstract

Interviews and participant observation are used to describe how ethnic minority students in an urban high school experience discrimination. The findings suggest critical variations among students that contributed to a hostile school environment. Asian American students discussed physical and verbal harassment by peers, while Black and Latino students reported discrimination by adults, such as teachers, police, and shopkeepers. Findings suggested a circular process whereby teachers preferred the Asian American students, often basing their preference on model minority beliefs, and the African American and Latino adolescents resented that teacher bias and thus harassed the Asian American students. Asian American and Latino students also expressed intraracial tensions around issues of language, immigration, and assimilation. Findings underscore the importance of exploring adolescents’ subjective experiences of discrimination.