If we talk about the mistreatment of Blacks in the police and legal system we have to first talk about who is targeted for investigation. A big part of that is the idea of racial profiling, the idea that we can use demographics of an area as a means to detain and interrogate people. It would never be tolerated that whites living in a predominately black neighborhood would be detained simply because they are seen going about their daily business in that neighborhood. However this is a part of many black people's daily reality. This one factor is a big contributor to the disproportionate rates of black arrests.
Think about it. If you start out with a criminal justice system that has historically been biased against black people and you use that data to justify stopping and frisking a higher number of blacks proportionately, you will just perpetually increase those disproportionate numbers which will further justify you continuing this same process. The result of this type of policing is that many Black people get a sense of hopelessness and in turn start identifying with criminal culture which further contributes to the problem.
In my experience, wealthy whites use far more drugs and a much larger variety of drugs than poor blacks, however the majority of drug arrests are against poor blacks.
I don't typically see anyone of the people killed attack the police. At most I see them resisting arrest. They also call resisting arrest when people put there hands up to block blows from billy clubs, which is just a natural human self preservation response. Any that actually attacked police I'm not defending. There are enough black people killed who were totally innocent to talk about.
Ever heard of Steven Askew? He was sleeping in his car waiting on his girlfriend to get off work. Police came up on him and saw he had a (legal) gun in the console and they shot him 22 times. This was done by 2 police officers who already had multiple complaints for racial harassment against them. Steven had no criminal record. What can justify shooting someone 22 times who has committed no crime and who never fired even once? Massive cover-up. They wouldn't even allow his family to see the body. Police on paid suspension for 2 weeks and back to work. No crime Committed. Officers Get 2 Week Paid Vacation/Suspension
Still we see police "talk down" or use stun guns on other people who attack them and who are known to have committed multiple homicides, like the most recent college shooting. While they seem to always use lethal force on blacks for much lesser crimes and when no crime at all has been committed. The one where the guy had a gun, he told the police he had a gun, as it was a completely legal weapon. He committed no crime. He was still shot for no reason.
Meanwhile we see white militia members with AR-15 surrounding city halls and screaming in police officers faces about what they'll do if they don't get their way and they go home to eat dinner with their families.
I'm actually in favor of the right to have militias to protect the community and prevent government tyranny. If it's related to the government taking land or forcing the quartering of troops or illegal search and seizure. However, when it changes over to seizing government buildings and making demands under the threat of violence these militias start crossing over to becoming more like white terrorists groups in my opinion. Whether you agree or disagree with their cause these people are actually a threat and capable of a lot of violence and they are treated with kid gloves. However average black citizens who are often unarmed are shot at the first even semi legally defensible opportunity.
There are literally too many cases of police abusing black people to name. Most don't even make the news. It's only now that everyone has cell phone cameras and certain cities require cops to wear body cameras that it's harder for police to plant guns and drugs on people they wrongfully kill. Only now can non-blacks get to see a fraction of what many of us have grown up seeing our whole lives. I'm not making this post to divide people, but the only way we can correct a problem is to look at it honestly. And if we're looking at this issue honestly we have to admit there is a major disparity with the way blacks are treated by police and our legal system.
Man getting out of car at gas station - police draw guns and say give me your licence -> he reaches back in the car for his license -> Cop says get out of the car -> he immediately complies. Cop fires -> He puts his hands up -> Cop keeps firing -> no crime was ever committed
MPD White Officer Shot 19 year Old Darrius Stewart. The Mother Grieves and Officer Curses Her Out!
Handcuffed Man Shot In the Back. Police Attempt to Confiscate the Cellphones of All the Witnesses
Hands In the Air On His Back. Still Shot
Police Stomp on Face of Innocent Black Man - No Crime Was Committed
Black Man Shot In the Back Multiple Times
Plain Clothes Cop Arrests Black Man For Drinking an Arizona Ice Tea
Making Things Better
i agree the violence from the police needs to be stopped. Not sure about this comment though:
"In my experience, wealthy whites use far more drugs and a much larger variety of drugs than poor blacks, however the majority of drug arrests are against poor blacks" - do you have some references to back up that claim. I am not sure it is wise to just blurt that out as now you maybe stereotyping. Otherwise good article and upvoted of course.
I said in MY experience, though I think a lot of people would agree with me. The fact that I don't have references for this, kind of goes along with what I was saying about them largely avoiding the consequences. I think weed is smoked socially across pretty much all races. In the black community if you're using crack or heroine you're considered a dope fiend. People snorting cocaine are seen as maybe a functioning dope fiend. The attitude towards cocaine seems to be more casual among whites compared to blacks from what I've seen. In addition I've only seen white meth users. I'm sure there are users of all races but it's definitly not a black man's drug. I've also seen a lot more white people abusing prescription drugs, ecstasy, pcp, lsd, mushrooms and more willing to try new unheard of drugs. But again this is just my experience of what I have observed from high school, college and partying in the U.S. and abroad. Thanks for the upvote
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