The American Psychological Association Journal of Personality and Social Psychology has released a study that shows people perceive Black men to be taller, heavier and more muscular than white men, even if they are the same height and weight.
The study used 950 participants to gauge physical attributes and “threatening” characteristics of men/boys based on the face and body. Ninety high school quarterbacks were used in the study, 45 of them Black, the other 45 white. Study participants perceived the Black boys to be larger and more muscular than their white peers, even though they actually were similar in size and weight.
Non-Black observers in the study also claimed that police are justified in using more force on Black men, even if they are unarmed.
This Atlanta Black Star video highlights this phenomenon and what it means for Black men and boys.