How structural inequality fuels black youth recruitment into cycles of violence?

Imagine you're on a playground where some kids get all the best toys and snacks, while others barely get to play at all, that’s structural inequality in action.

Structural inequality is like when the rules of the game are unfair from the start. For many Black youth, this means they often don’t have the same chances as other kids, maybe no good school, no safe neighborhood, or even a hard time getting food to eat.

Think of cycles of violence like being stuck on a broken slide that keeps sending you back down. If someone hits you when you're already tired and hungry, it's easier to hit them back, and then the next day, it all starts again.

When kids see their friends or family getting hurt, or even sent to jail, they might feel like fighting is the only way out, especially if no one else helps them get a better start in life. It’s like being stuck on that broken slide with no way up.

So structural inequality makes it harder for Black youth to escape, and that’s why they’re more likely to be pulled into cycles of violence, just trying to survive the unfair game.