John grew up in a predominantly African-American, working-class neighborhood in a metropolitan city. Some extended family members from his maternal side also lived in the city. His paternal grandparents were from Mississippi and maternal grandparents from Missouri and eventually migrated to Milwaukee, WI. Despite their close proximity, John did not have a significant relationship with either of his maternal grandparents. His paternal grandparents died when John was at a young age. In childhood, John’s primary peer group was his siblings and a few cousins. Because of their religious views, John’s parent did not permit him and his brother to participate in many activities along with their neighborhood peers.
John had little exposure, in a social context, to individuals who did not share either a similar economic or cultural background. He presently lives in a suburban city, an hour removed from his native neighborhood. Consideration to recidivism and available transition living programs at the time of his parole influenced the Wisconsin Department of Corrections’ decision to relocate John to his current city of residence. In addition to navigating through the stigma, barriers, and trials that come along with being a felon, John endures a myriad of …show more content…
role confusion” stage. He access to healthy relationships were impaired most during adolescence. John had no clear answer for the role he would play in his future; the person he would eventually become. Physical, sexual, and emotional abuse marred and distorted his context within his family of origin. He was disenfranchised as a brother and son. Although, he found a secondary “family”, they hardly provided a platform for emotional safety and development necessary in order to successfully launch into adulthood. Developmentally speaking, one tends to reconcile what their intended path can be and what the world at large has into