A Study Of Role Race Plays In Racial Injustice
Race and American Justice System:
A Study of Role Race Plays in Racial Injustice
LaMichael Saunders
ENG 122
Instructor Storey
November 25, 2013
Race and American Justice System:
A Study of Role Race Plays in Racial Injustice
The U.S has roughly 5 percent of the world’s population, but about 25 percent of its prison population. Further, over two million Americans are in prison or jail. Crime statistics and incarceration rates reveal that young African American men are prosecuted and imprisoned at higher rates than their Non-Hispanic White counterparts. Appallingly, of those incarcerated just under half (40 percent), are African American (Lawrence, 2011, p. 4). To put this statistic into perspective, as of 2010, African Americans …show more content…
Millions banded together to fight for racial equality and justice at a time when there was relatively little of both. The times produced such prominent leaders of change as Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. These two remarkable visionaries with the help of millions of others led the charge in forcing American standards of racism, discrimination and segregation to come under question, fire and challenge. This powerful fight for change would be termed the Civil Rights Movement, and its wins and losses would set the foundation for future American society. While many white Americans supported and even took part in the fight for civil rights, others did not. Racist fervor was a strong as ever, and as the Civil Rights Movement waged its battle, as at any time of social change, a concomitant struggle began to keep things more of the same, just under a different guise (Alexander, 2010, p. …show more content…
The targeting of individuals because of their skin color is as clear a form of discrimination as not hiring a person because of their race. Thus, racial profiling in simplest terms is intentional discrimination based on racial stereotyping. It is disheartening that such intentional discrimination is a widely used tactic by law enforcement officers, whether they openly admit to the practice or not. One must wonder what would happen if the demographics in the U.S. were to suddenly flip and white people found themselves as the minority more likely to be approached (harassed?) by police, if racial profiling would continue to be a viable practice. It’s not
A Study of Role Race Plays in Racial Injustice
LaMichael Saunders
ENG 122
Instructor Storey
November 25, 2013
Race and American Justice System:
A Study of Role Race Plays in Racial Injustice
The U.S has roughly 5 percent of the world’s population, but about 25 percent of its prison population. Further, over two million Americans are in prison or jail. Crime statistics and incarceration rates reveal that young African American men are prosecuted and imprisoned at higher rates than their Non-Hispanic White counterparts. Appallingly, of those incarcerated just under half (40 percent), are African American (Lawrence, 2011, p. 4). To put this statistic into perspective, as of 2010, African Americans …show more content…
Millions banded together to fight for racial equality and justice at a time when there was relatively little of both. The times produced such prominent leaders of change as Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. These two remarkable visionaries with the help of millions of others led the charge in forcing American standards of racism, discrimination and segregation to come under question, fire and challenge. This powerful fight for change would be termed the Civil Rights Movement, and its wins and losses would set the foundation for future American society. While many white Americans supported and even took part in the fight for civil rights, others did not. Racist fervor was a strong as ever, and as the Civil Rights Movement waged its battle, as at any time of social change, a concomitant struggle began to keep things more of the same, just under a different guise (Alexander, 2010, p. …show more content…
The targeting of individuals because of their skin color is as clear a form of discrimination as not hiring a person because of their race. Thus, racial profiling in simplest terms is intentional discrimination based on racial stereotyping. It is disheartening that such intentional discrimination is a widely used tactic by law enforcement officers, whether they openly admit to the practice or not. One must wonder what would happen if the demographics in the U.S. were to suddenly flip and white people found themselves as the minority more likely to be approached (harassed?) by police, if racial profiling would continue to be a viable practice. It’s not