How We're Priming Some Kids for College and Others for Prison

Explore a thought-provoking TED talk that delves into the stark contrast between two institutions guiding American teenagers: college and prison. Gain insights from sociologist Alice Goffman's six-year study in a troubled Philadelphia neighborhood, where she witnessed firsthand how African-American and Latino youth are often steered towards incarceration, sometimes for minor infractions. Examine the societal implications of this phenomenon and consider the speaker's impassioned question about why handcuffs and jail time are often the primary options offered to these young people. Discover how this talk fits into the broader context of TED's mission to spread powerful ideas across various disciplines, including technology, entertainment, design, science, business, global issues, and the arts.

Alice Goffman: How we're priming some kids for college — and others for prison