Bob Butler

<p>We have long been worried about the ways in which the media helps perpetuate negative stereotypes of boys and men of color, but this appears to be overtly criminalizing a preschooler.</p>

<p>Devaugndre Broussard grew up in three violent neighborhoods: San Francisco's Bayview-Hunter's Point and Western Addition and Richmond's Iron Triangle. His mother went to prison for drug sales when he was only 10 months old. She went back to prison several times while he grew up, sending him to a series of foster homes. A girlfriend who attended some of Broussard's early court appearances told the Chauncey Bailey Project this might've set the tone for his life. He's one of many people she knows who lived in foster homes where "parents" were more interested in the monthly county check than in their foster kids.</p>

<p>Matthew Crawford wants to be a police officer. Terrell Williams works two jobs and goes to college. Claude Eakins works as an advocate helping young people in the foster care system. They all have two things in common: they, too, were once in the foster care system and they believe media reports

<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p> <p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>

<p>Reporters covering truancy often conclude that poor students and students of color who skip school do so because they don't care about education. But many of the students want to go to school but can't for a variety of reasons.</p>