As issues related to race and policing reverberated through New York City classrooms this school year, WNYC spoke to a few different groups of 12-year-old New Yorkers about how their views changed.
Amani Brown, who attended a recent conference on justice hosted by Global Kids, said she did not trust the police, and felt disappointed by the events this year. Brown wore a gray hooded sweatshirt which she said she always wore when walking around her Brooklyn neighborhood.
"My hood is my wall," she said. "I don't feel safe without my hood on. Anytime I'm outside, I always have my hood on no matter what."
Another group of tweens grappled with the issues in a different way. Students at the Cornerstone Academy for Social Action were inspired by the events in Staten Island and Ferguson to create a rap song and video, with help from arts partners called Hip Hop Saves Lives and Negusworld.
Nashawnti McDowell said she was "shocked" by Ferguson.
"I feel like this whole thing started over with the blacks and like...one shot for no reason," she said.
Some of the boys weren't as surprised. They'd been told by adults to watch how they behave around police. LaKai Williams said his mother warned him not to have pants below his waist, or to "hang out in big crowds."
And Joseph Beazer said he wasn't surprised by Ferguson. "Like I knew that at some point it would happen again," he said, adding that all he wanted was "peace in the world and for everyone to have fun."