Black boys, men ponder avoiding becoming the next hashtag

The impact of the constant drumbeat of police shootings of black men and boys — many of them unarmed and killed at the hands of white officers — has left many black youngsters wondering how they can keep from becoming the next social media hashtag.

At the start of what would be a week of violence ending with two black men shot dead by police on video and five Dallas police officers killed by a sniper, about a group of black boys met with their mentors in Philadelphia in an intervention and diversion program where they learn critical thinking, accountability, goal-setting and other skills.

Together, they watched a video of Alton Sterling, who was shot several times Tuesday while being held down by Baton Rouge police officers in front of a convenience store where he was selling CDs.

Slouched in his chair in jeans, a black t-shirt and a pair of Michael Jordan Nike tennis shoes, Javon shook his head and sat quietly, staring ahead for several moments before speaking.

A 2014 study published in the American Psychological Association's Journal of Personality and Social Psychology concluded that black boys as young as 10 are more likely to be mistaken as older, be perceived as guilty and face police violence if accused of a crime.

"Cops be making mistakes all the time," Xavier said before telling a story about a time his older brother had been stopped by police because of how he looked.

For some black men, that can mean swallowing their pride to get through the moment, a lesson that often comes with age.

Errin Haines Whack covers urban affairs for The Associated Press.