The Labeler Theory: Dwayne's Labeling Theory

Labeling Theory Generally, I don’t think of this as a “stand alone theory”. Meaning I think it is more so a factor than a cause of delinquent activity. However, this theory certainly holds a big place in our society. Particularly at this point in American history when we are so divided and people who look, worship, and live differently than us are seen as the other and assigned characteristics – some positive and some negative. Our society labels poor black neighborhoods as dangerous and bad. This allows us to easily assume the people who live there are bad. Often the police get blamed for having this ideology but it’s important to understand it’s a bias they – like most of society – may not be aware of. Dwayne saw aspects of this labeling

In his memoir, he notes he attempts at avoidance by writing “…and nights I stood on corners with dudes selling drugs, always pulling back far enough I wasn’t the one selling the stuff…” (Betts 2009, p. 92). Dwayne is an interesting case for the labeling theory because in addition to the criminal label associated with being black and from a certain neighborhood, he was also considered a gifted student. Even after he was convicted there were people in his life that saw his intelligence. I think this is part of what kept Dwayne for a full blown like of crime, he could see himself always as something different than the bodies that filled the space around him. He found solace in his books and like most teenagers spent time trying to figure out his

During his sentence, he became fascinated with Islam. He joined the group because they were able to have intelligent conversation and for a boy who had intended to go to college that was a shining light in a nine-year sentence. Dwayne associated with a few different religious groups so he was clearly looking more for himself than for an ideal to worship. I think in life we all come to the point where we need to know who we truly are. His named himself Shahid, Arabic for witness. He sees himself as a bystander in his own life which should give some insight on how powerless he must have felt.
That was one of the most important labels Dwayne and so many other were given. Powerless. That lack of control was present prior to his incarceration because it is indicative of childhood. Seeing himself though the powerless label made Dwayne, like so many others, crave control or maybe even revenge. Like his friend, Sam, I believe Dwayne committed his carjacking to feel power over the society he felt had labeled him criminal as quickly as it labeled him black.