TheCaliforniaSupplement An UrbanTrends Special Edition A Lifestyle Profile of Black California Youth With support from The California Levels of Sexual Activity neighborhood. Ten percent re- Endowment, The Ford Foundation sponded no. Who is Sexually Active and other funders, MEE has under- in the last 3 months taken a groundbreaking research Access to Health Clinics 80 in their Neighborhood project that examines and analyzes No 80 70 emerging trends in Black urban No 63% Yes 72% youth sexuality, media consumption 60 70 55% and lifestyle choices. Such a study is 63% Yes 50 60 important because current literature 40% 40 50 reflects limited information on Black 34% urban youth and sexuality issues. 30 40 This research, which began in the fall 20 30 of 2001, will be published shortly, coinciding with the release of a hard- 10 20 17% hitting documentary. 0 10 10% California Other Cities MEE surveyed more than 700 youth 0 When participants were asked if they California Other Cities in California, and found that respons- had been sexually active in the last ...Continued on page 2 es from participants on the West three months, 55% of California Coast almost always seemed to be youth said yes and 40% said no, as at least a shade different from a compared to those in other cities composite of participant responses Methodology who were recorded at 63% and from other parts of the country. For A lifestyles survey of Black youth ages 34%, respectively. 16 to 20 was conducted by MEE example: Productions Inc. The national survey Access to Healthcare included teens and young adults in • California participants were less Having access to healthcare is nine urban areas, including Los likely to be sexually active than Angeles, Long Beach, Oakland and important, especially if you are sexu- their peers in other cities. Richmond, California. Other cities ally active. Twenty-eight percent of were Baltimore, New York, Atlanta, • Youth and young adults in California participants said that they Philadelphia, Chicago, Detroit and New Orleans. California are more likely to have had direct access to a family doctor, at least a part-time job. from whom they had received care A comprehensive survey was adminis- for years, compared to 23% of other tered to 720 California youth and • California youth are less likely to young adults, who ranged in age from youth across the country. Eighteen be aware of a health clinic in their 16 through 20. California survey-tak- percent of California youth opted to ers tended to skew slightly younger immediate neighborhood. “take care of themselves,” foregoing than their counterparts across the rest of the country. More than half of the But California-area survey partici- any professional medical care. That youth (56%) were under the age of 18, pants at times also responded in a sentiment was mirrored by 14% of compared with 48% of those from similar manner to their Eastern, other youth. Youth were also asked if other cities. Midwestern and Southern counter- they had a health clinic in their neigh- The findings and recommendations parts, which proves that no matter borhood. While 63% of Californians from This is My Reality: The Price of said yes and 17% said no, 72% of Sex, which includes primary and sec- where youth are from, they will ondary research, are expected to have always have comparable opinions on youth in other cities said that they a profound impact on youth in some issues. were aware of a health clinic in their America’s inner cities. UT The California Supplement 1 A Lifestyle Profile of Black California Youth (continued) We found that the majority of sur- gion is what they desperately need, Do You Work? veyed youth in California and across Yes almost half (47%) of California youth the country (56%) had access to the say they’ve attended religious servic- hospital/emergency room for care California 51% es in the past month, compared to when necessary. Most participants in 39% of youth in other cities. all areas were aware of health clinics Families Today located somewhere in their respec- Other Cities 37% All youth surveyed had similar tive communities. Sixteen percent of responses when it was time to grade California youth said their health clin- 0 102030405060their parents, on a scale of A through ic was located more than 10 blocks F, on how much they respected away, and 15% of others found that problem for youth. Some will not be them. Non-California residents (75%) same distance to be accurate. able to find a job; others will not be gave their parents an ‘A’ and Some youth in both groups seemed able to handle balancing a job with California youth (73%), too, said their to take healthcare seriously, with schoolwork (therefore being forced parents passed with flying colors. 29% of California youth logging in to quit their job or drop out). Still However, 6% of both groups of par- visits to their doctor, nurse or clinic other youth are unable to find a job ticipants graded their parents ‘C.’ A at between one and three months making the kind of money they few in both groups (2%) gave their prior to the day the survey was would like. In California, finding work parents a ‘D’ when referring to their taken. The other participants had seems to be less of an issue. When level of respect for them. similar results, with 31% visiting youth were asked whether or not their healthcare professional within they worked, 51% of California youth Siblings are not always high on the the same timeframe. In addition, said yes; 46% said no. However, the list of respect. There’s always an 32% of both West Coast youth and percentage of youth in other cities unspoken competition, whether for a youth in other cities described their that worked was lower, at 37%. Only parent’s time and affection, for last medical appointment as a 21% of the West Coast participants grades or for wardrobe and room scheduled one. said that they get their money in space. However, 47% of California participants graded their siblings an Gettin’ Paid: Youth Employment other ways than from work (parents, ‘A,’ and 49% of other youth gave Employment issues will always be a family, etc.), compared to 33% of youth in other places. Of those who them the same passing grade. But a worked, 17% percent of California few youth in both groups (3%) failed What’sInside youth had a full-time job, compared their siblings with an ‘F.’ A LIFESTYLE PROFILE OF to 10% of youth in other cities. Givin’ Props BLACK CALIFORNIA YOUTH Making a way for oneself financially is Respect is a huge issue within the . PAGE 1 important to youth, who like to feel Black community, particularly with TV OR NOT TV independent and have a sense of urban youth. When participants were . PAGE 3 freedom and accomplishment, asked whom they most respect, 39% of California youth said parents KEEPIN’ IT REAL ON SCREEN: especially when they want to buy or guardians and 36% said YOUTH & MOVIES expensive designer clothing and God/Allah. Forty-four percent of . PAGE 4 accessories. Being too dependent on their parents’ financial situation youth in other cities said their par- ACCESS ALL AREAS: THE may keep them from “keeping up ents or guardians and 33% said INTERNET with the Jones’.” Of those youth who God/Allah. PAGE 4 do work, 8% of youth in other cities When MEE asked them to grade THE URBAN SOUNDTRACK: get money through babysitting, as their teachers —on a scale similar to HIP-HOP MUSIC & RADIO do 7% of California-area youth. that of a report card—on how much . PAGE 5 In the Spirit: Youth Spirituality they respect them, 33% of California “MAD LUV” FROM THE HIP- In a time when adults speculate that, respondents gave them an ‘A’ and HOP GENERATION because of the way some youth act 23% gave them a ‘C.’ Thirty-eight . PAGE 6 out or talk back to their parents, reli- percent of respondents in other ...Continued on page 3 UT The California Supplement 2 TV or Not TV A favorite pastime seem to watch TV anytime they can. youth watch an hour also. Four or of many youth, For some, television shows show- more hours of daily television is once they get case particular things that teens go taken in by 37% of other youth and home from school through during adolescence. One 30% of California youth. or come back home station in particular tries to remind Of the youth that are watching TV, from a day of hanging with friends, is Black audiences that neither they 16% of Californians and 11% of to deprogram by watching TV. A nor their unique experiences are for- other youth prefer cartoons. In addi- surefire way to punish a youth is to gotten—UPN. Many shows youth tion, 21% of California youth and take away the one thing that is locat- watch can be found on this station. 28% of other youth surveyed pre- ed in almost every room in the It’s the one station, not on cable, ferred television shows that deal with house. By doing that, what would where they can turn and see them- the lives and situations of minorities. they have to laugh about with their selves as leading actors in shows friends the next morning at school? that focus on them, as opposed to A Lifestyle Profile (continued) The shows on television have a very supporting actors on mainstream cities graded their teachers an ‘A,’ lasting impact on youth.