Final answer:
African Americans represent the largest racial group among juveniles in adult prisons in the United States. Disproportional representation can be attributed to systemic issues like increased surveillance and long-standing racial disparities, with African Americans being far more likely to be imprisoned than their white counterparts.
Step-by-step explanation:
The racial group that makes up the majority of juveniles in adult prisons in the United States are African Americans. Statistics have consistently shown that there are significant disparities in incarceration rates based on race and ethnicity. For instance, black men are disproportionately represented in the prison population, with figures indicating they are almost six times more likely to be imprisoned than white men, and in some states, such as New York, over 90 percent of people in prison were Black or Hispanic. These disparities exist despite the fact that policies and affirmative action have sought to address inequalities, suggesting that issues like race and poverty are major factors contributing to the higher rates of incarceration among certain racial groups.
Furthermore, within these statistics, it is evident that the war on drugs which began in the 1980s has led to a considerable increase in the number of people incarcerated, with a marked impact on African Americans. The societal and systemic issues that underpin this overrepresentation, including increased surveillance of certain communities, have resulted in a cycle of poverty and lack of opportunities, which continue to perpetuate these high rates of imprisonment among minority groups.