Abstract

Black and Mixed heritage children experience the Criminal Justice System as something that often criminalises, but rarely meaningfully engages them. This chapter will explore how creative co-production with Black and Mixed heritage children can provide opportunities to reimagine and create a different world for them. The co-creation will privilege the (counter) voices of Black and Mixed heritage children and explore with them how to develop ways of moving away from offending through their lens. Their stories, challenges and aspirations need to be heard and placed at the centre of any transformational plans for change in their lives. This chapter acknowledges their experience of racism, of Othering, of everyday threats of violence from peers and adults, and harassment by the police. But, it will also acknowledge the individuality and intersectionality of their identities and aspirations. Importantly, it will explore their world and this will be at the centre and inform co-created solutions for desistance. In particular, the key ideas of co -creating a space that celebrates all things of African heritage, in terms of art, science, poetry, music, politics and philosophy in Africanist spaces, through co-creating and enabling Black place-making for Black and Mixed heritage children as an authentic alternative to offending behaviour.