Over the course of 14 months, Dr. Monique Morris took a close look at the educational experiences of confined black girls in the California Bay Area juvenile system. Youth Radio’s Darelle Brown interviewed Dr. Morris about her findings.
“Nationally, the average age at which girls first become exploited through prostitution is 12–14 years old.”
Out of the many disheartening statistics, this one stuck out the most to me. I have two beautiful little
cousins who will turn 12 years old this year. Instead of them entering the safe and innocent pre-teen
years, they are now entering a war zone. Who will fight for them when they are too young and too small
to fight for themselves? How am I supposed to protect them from being yet another statistic? When I’m
not there to hold their hands and lead them away from a strange man who only wants to hurt them,
then what?
