In all complex societies in the world, delinquency is a product of the interaction of hierarchical systems. The factors which define social status (class, gender, ethnicity, and age) shape social relations so that multiple socio-demographic variables operate to produce deviant behaviors, particularly among the underclass. An example of such forces producing delinquency in a group of underclass youth is that of American black males. Black urban males are typically unable to meet their economic, social, and psychological needs through normative socioeconomic structures due to low school achievement, limited job opportunities, and the absence of a social support system that encourages normative educational and career pursuits. When confronting the norms of the dominant society, blacks experience powerlessness, low self-esteem, and hopelessness. Delinquency is the alternative lifestyle for meeting various needs and expressing anger toward dominant institutions. This criminogenic environment is perpetuated through discrimination and the absence of effective interventions to break the cycle that grips the underclass. 41 references.