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Altruistic prosocial behavior during adolescence is consistently associated with a myriad of positive outcomes including fewer risk‐taking behaviors and greater positive affect. Although limited, some literature suggests altruism may be an important protective factor in attenuating the effects of stressful life events such as exposure to community violence. Unfortunately, work examining altruism in African American adolescents is quite limited. The study examined the moderating role of altruism on relationships between exposure to violence and antisocial behavior in a sample of African American adolescents (136 females, 71 males). Participant's age ranged from 13 to 18. Results indicated that boys and girls engaged in similar levels of altruistic behaviors, but these behaviors were especially important in moderating the effects of community violence on antisocial behaviors for boys. The findings suggest that encouraging altruistic behaviors in boys may be critical in improving outcomes for adolescent males developing in violent ecologies.

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The commentary offers a critique of the strategy to have critical discussions about social class in schools without simultaneously considering racial and ethnic backgrounds of students and the teachers. By highlighting the unique opportunity afforded to South Bay Elementary to discuss these complex issues, we highlight an example of school that attempted similar discussions. We also offer developmental specific examples of how schools can attempt these difficult discussions.