Afnrcan American Scholars and Parents Cannot Blame Current Harsh Physical Punishment of Black Males on Slavery: A Response to "Cultural Interpretations of Child Discipline: Voices of African American Scholars"

Abstract

This article responds to assertions that nonspanking parenting methods do not work well with African American children. Claims that African American parents must hit, spank, or beat their children for the purpose of preparing them for America's racist society are unsubstantiated by research findings. Current research strongly refutes these assertions. Data is presented to expose this myth and the failed autocratic method of child rearing. Parents and educators must realize thatpunishment and coercive treatment of children only belong in an autocratic society and "slavery" behaviors are physically and psychologically damaging to children; these methods are no longer effective. Hitting does not instill confidence or courage in children; rather, itprovokes and supports poorself-concepts, builds desiresfor revenge, fosters the idea that it is okay to hit the ones you love, tends to make childrenfeel worthless, and trains children to use violence.

African American Families and the Role of Physical Discipline: Witnessing the Past in the Present

“…Multiple studies have demonstrated that African American parents especially tend to endorse physical discipline as a parenting tactic (Bluestone & Tamis-Lemonda, 1999;Ibanez et al, 2006;Ispa & Halgunseth, 2004;Lassiter, 1987;McLoyd et al, 2007;Mosby et al, 1999, Straus & Stewart, 1999Tilmon, 2003), and there is a growing body of literature showing that the use of physical punishment may have a differential impact across racial and ethnic groups, with some African American youth demonstrating positive outcomes not seen in their White counterparts (Deater-Deckard, Dodge, Bates, & Pettit, 1996;Lansford, Deater-Deckard, Dodge, Bates, & Pettit, 2004;Polaha, Larzelere, Shapiro, & Pettit, 2004). However, others hold that the use of physical discipline is never acceptable because it models violent and hostile behavior, instills fear, develops poor self-esteem, and has potential long-term negative effects, including damaged psychological development and poor parent-child relationships (Giles-Sims et al, 1995;Greven, 1990;Raymond et al, 1998;Straus & Stewart, 1999). Decades of research have illustrated that long-term use of harsh physical discipline is detrimental for children (Hicks-Pass, 2009).…”