RACIAL MISTRUST AND DISPOSITION TO DEVIANCE AMONG AFRICAN-AMERICAN, HAITIAN, AND OTHER CARIBBEAN ISLAND ADOLESCENT BOYS

Using survey data from Miami, Florida, this study empirically tests wh ether racial mistrust is related to a willingness to engage in delinqu ent behaviors among a sample of African Americans, Haitians, and other Caribbean Island Black adolescent boys residing in Miami, Florida. No significant differences were found among the three groups with respec t to their disposition scores. However, when compared to non-Blacks, A frican Americans and Haitians reported a greater willingness to violat e the law. Bivariate analyses suggest a strong relationship between ra cial mistrust and disposition to deviance for all three ethnic groups. Three findings also held in multivariate analyses controlling for soc ioeconomic status.