Jacked Up and Unjust: Pacific Islander Teens Confront Violent Legacies

In the context of two hundred years of American colonial control in the Pacific, Irwin and Umemoto shed light on the experiences of inner-city as well as rural girls and boys in Hawai'i. During their nine-year ethnographic study, teens openly discussed facing off against racism, sexism, poverty, and political neglect on a daily basis.

The authors highlight how past injustices endure as challenging legacies in the present, prompting teens to fight for dignity and the chance to thrive in America - a country that the youth described as inherently "jacked up,""unjust," and "rigged" against them.

While the story begins with the youth battling multiple contingencies, it ends on a hopeful note, as we see the teens overcome numerous hardships, often with the help of steadfast, caring adults.