Racial Inequality in the Criminal Justice System

Racial Inequality in the Criminal Justice System There is a recurrent pattern that involves law enforcement agencies and the African American communities that is questioning the police conduct, especially because of the recent shootings in Ferguson and New York City. One cant rationally discuss the issues of race within the criminal justice system without looking back at history and why the issue of race is not diminishing. The United States has an infamous history of slavery, the Jim Crow laws, and many other racially based inequalities that make it apparent that race does play an important factor in many parts of the criminal just system. The purpose of this paper is to recognize what role race and media play within the criminal justice system. This paper will discuss the history of African Americans within the justice system and whether racial biases exist and if racial neutrality is even achievable. A study of race and the criminal justice system is incomplete without acknowledging the way slavery and its abolition played into the relationship. Based on author Chaney and Robertson’s article titled Can We All Get Along?† even when the slaves were legally freed, their individual, ancestral, and shared status in society remained extremely weak. The authors also state that whites created the black codes, which were laws, statues, and rules, which allowed members of this group to reclaim control over the freed slaves, and uphold white supremacy, and safeguard the continued supply of cheap labor (Chaney Robertson, 2014). Some of these codes of behaviors included; vagrancy, absenteeism from work, violation of job contracts, the possession of firearms, and insulting gestures or acts. Such acts were common at the time making these laws unguarded to interpretation and easy manipulation, which meant that black people became easily targeted and punished (Chaney Robertson,   2014). While the Thirteenth Amendment passed the constitutional principle of convict leasing began. It was meant to abolish slavery and involuntary confinement however it was permitted as a form of punishment for a crime. Therefore, many blacks in the south went from being slaves to criminals, whose freedom was quickly and legally taken away by the same constitutional amendment that was believed to have protected that freedom. The number of confined blacks increased, and so did the common belief of black criminality (Slavery in the United States). The racial separation of America’s criminal justice system had begun. Furthermore, the 1950s and ‘60s were a time of great social eruption and change. Millions gathered together to fight for racial equality and justice at a time when there were almost little of both (Johnson, 2014). The times produced notable leaders of change like Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. These two exceptional leaders, with a vision of change, alongside the aid of millions of others, motivated the charge in demanding American principles of racism, discrimination, and segregation to come under question and challenge. Author Michelle Alexander argues in â€Å"The New Jim Crow† (2011) that racist white interests began a call for a disciplinary crackdown on crime that was easily linked to the Civil Rights Movement. Riots and the social distress following Martin Luther King Jr.’s murder intensified this effect, and â€Å"the racial imagery associated with, gave fuel to the argument that civil rights for African Americans led to widespread crime† (Alexander,  2011) The riots and public disorder epidemic during these times were often the result of police brutality, a fact confirmed by the findings of the National Commission on Civil Disorders, but those wanting to dishonor the Civil Rights Movement gave slight credit to such accusations and dismissed them most of the time (Weaver, 2007). According to author Weaver, it is at this time that so-called â€Å"frontlash† empowers the elites to form new systems that whereas on the outside seem irrelevant in upholding the status q uo, however, work together to continue it cunningly. It is in this era the United States would find its early foundation and strategy used in the criminal justice system, as the basis to control African Americans, that race which is an undeniable proof does matter in the criminal justice system. The1980’s and the war on drugs didn’t help the race inequality within the criminal justice system but hurt it even more. Although both blacks and whites use cocaine, one form received a much harsher sentence of punishment. The harsher sentence was for crack cocaine, which was used mainly by blacks (Provine, 2011). This was a huge discrepancy in the sentencing guidelines. Furthermore, the role of the media surrounding race disparity didn’t help lesson but heightened it even more. According to author Trujillo (2012) the newspapers and magazines all reported that this was an epidemic similar to a plaque on the society. Additionally, author Alexander (2010) states that the articles played up the racial stereotypes and fixated on racial cartoons such as â€Å"the black crack whore and gangbanger.† Although President Obama did sign the Fair Sentencing Act in 2010 that lessened the crack/powder sentencing disparity, some may blame crack as the assumed link to cri me and violence as the reason for the sentencing disparities between the two (whitehouse.gov). The media also hurt the viewpoint of the society towards blacks and gave a face to the drug war’s number one enemy the black crack users and the sellers. However, it was and is law enforcement officers who pursue and arrest the criminals who are prosecuted under disciplinary drug legislation. Thus racial profiling became acceptable and widespread under the pretext of the drug war, which plays a huge role in the racial disparities that have defined the criminal justice system for years. This idea of black criminality is reproduced and perpetuated by the mass media in order to get ratings. Studies of news coverage have emphasized the criminal tenor of news reports highlighting African Americans. Media often depict African-American men and boys, as criminals, crime victims and predators. These stereotypes, according to social justice supporters, can generate a racially charged atmosphere that results in violence such as the shooting death of teenager Michal Brown (Sanders, 2012). Therefore, when the media portrays blacks and especially black men as criminal or violent, it can further strengthen the already negative views that the public holds about them. Just because blacks are arrested more for a particular crime does not inevitably mean that they actually commit that crime regularly. Rather, it could be biased police methods that lead to more arrests of blacks than of whites, and actual criminality may have little to do with it. In conclusion, Americans like to uphold values of equality and justice for all, however, until the criminal justice system is truly equal not based on race or ethnicity, equality, and justice will not be achieved. As long as African Americans fear police officers and as long as imprisonment is an ordinary life encounter for many of them, equality and justice are not feasible. As long as racial profiling is allowed as a suitable form of law enforcement, equality and justice are not possible. Change may not come effortlessly and may come slowly, but it is achievable. Until the whole society sees each other as an equal, there will be no justice in the criminal justice system. References Chaney, c., Robertson, r. v. (2014). Can We All Get Along? Blacks Historical and Contemporary (In) Justice With Law Enforcement. Western Journal Of Black Studies, 38(2), 108-122. Slavery in the United States | Academic Room. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.academicroom.com/topics/slavery-united-stateshttp://www.academicroom.com/topics/slavery-united-states Russell, K. K. (1998). The Color of Crime : Racial Hoaxes, White Fear, Black Protectionism, Police Harassment, and Other Macroaggressions. New York: New York University Press Johnson, P. M. (2014). Reinterpretations of Freedom and Emancipation, Civil Rights and Assimilation, and the Continued Struggle for Social and Political Change. Western Journal Of Black Studies, 38(3), 184-194 Alexander,M. (2011). The new Jim Crow. Ohio State Journal of Criminal Law, 9(1), 7-26.Retrieved from www.lexisnexis.com/hottopics/lnacademic Weaver, V. M. (2007). Frontlash: Race and the development of punitive crime policy. Studies in American Political Development, 21(2), 230-265. Retrieved March 24 2015, from http://www.ebonterr.com/site_editor/assets/EBONTERR_41.pdf Provine,D. (2011). Race and inequality in the war on drugs. Annual Review of Law Social Science, 7, 41-65. Trujillo,J. (2012). Media laugh off criticism of drug war. Extra!, 25(12), 6-7. President Obama Signs the Fair Sentencing Act | The White House. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2010/08/03/president-obama-signs-fair-sentencing-act Sanders, J, (2012). Media Portrayals of Black Youths Contribute to Racial Tension | The Maynard Institute for Journalism Education. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://mije.org/mmcsi/general/media’s-portrayal-black-youths-contributes-racial-tension

Their Eyes Were Watching God Analysis

â€Å"The Power Struggle in African American Marriages† Zora Neale Hurston is recognized as one of the key contributors to the Harlem Renaissance that occurred during the 1920s and 1930s. Her multitudes of literary works explore and celebrate African American culture and heritage without directly addressing the subject of racism which was prevalent during this time. Hurston incorporates both the positive and negative aspects of African American culture into her stories in order to give a true depiction to her audience.In a number of her works, including â€Å"Sweat† and Their Eyes Were Watching God, domestic violence plays a very frequent role in marriages. Husbands would hit their wives to establish their power in the relationship, even when the wives did not do anything to deserve such cruel brutality. In Hurston’s short story, â€Å"Sweat†, oppression of women in the black community is demonstrated through the marriage of Delia and Sykes Jones. In anoth er of her short stories, â€Å"The Gilded Six-Bits†, Hurston writes about a married couple who is completely in love and share a balance of power in the relationship.In 1937, Hurston published one of her more well-known works, Their Eyes Were Watching God. The novel is about a young African American girl, Janie Crawford, and her journey from a young girl into an independent woman. This transformation is gradually seen through her three marriages. Although each of the marriages was very different from one another, they all shared the same underlying conflict: a power struggle between genders. Due to the death of her mother at an early age, Janie is raised by her grandmother who grew up as a slave. Nanny, her grandmother, is extremely dissatisfied with the way that black women are treated.She explains to Janie that the white men oppress the black men who then oppress the black women. It is a brutal cycle that forces black woman to act as the â€Å"mules† by doing all of the hard work (14). In order to protect Janie from this oppression, Nanny forces the sixteen year old girl to marry Logan Killicks. Before the wedding, Janie tries to convince herself she will be happy when she thinks, â€Å"Husbands and wives always loved each other, and that was what marriage meant. † (21). Nanny has the opposite view of marriage as Janie; Nanny views marriage as a contract in which the couple does not have to be in love.Many years older than Janie, Logan is a dull farmer who owns sixty acres of land. After almost a year of being married to Logan, Janie is disheartened by the fact that she still does not love him. As time passes, Logan gradually begins to oppress Janie. At the beginning of the marriage, he would chop the firewood and bring it indoors to Janie. Then, he started expecting Janie to chop the firewood herself and bring it into the house. He not only demands Janie to serve him in the home by preparing his meals and cleaning, but he also expects J anie to serve him in the field by plowing or moving cow manure.One day when Janie is in the kitchen cooking dinner, Logan yells at her to move some cow manure. Janie refuses his order by saying that she is in her place in the kitchen. Logan verbally exerts his power over his wife as he tells her, â€Å"You ain’t got no particular place. It’s wherever Ah need yuh. † (31). He also expresses his power through violence when he threatens Janie by telling her that he will kill her with an ax if she talks back to him again. To Logan, Janie is just an object that he can utilize for labor and chores. He even plans to buy Janie her own mule so that she can plow the fields as well.The irony of this is that Nanny only wanted Janie to marry Logan so that Janie would not have to be worked like a â€Å"mule†. When Logan is gone for the day to pick up the mule, Janie meets a man by the name of Joe Starks (Jody). She is very fascinated by this confident and charming man. When Jody hears that Logan is making her plow the fields, he is appalled. He convinces Janie to run away with him by telling her he will treat her like a wife and take good care of her. Janie makes her first step towards asserting her independence when she leaves Logan to run away with another man.Although Hurston’s short story â€Å"Sweat† exhibits a more extreme case of domestic violence and oppression than in Their Eyes Were Watching God, Delia’s marriage with Sykes is somewhat parallel to Janie’s marriage with Logan. Delia is constantly working as a wash woman in order to provide for her and her husband. Sykes does not contribute anything to the marriage. He has been verbally and physically abusing Delia since their second month of marriage, which was fifteen years ago. The balance of power in their relationship begins to shift when Delia starts to stand up for herself against her husband like Janie did against Logan.She even scares Sykes off when she threatens to hit him with a frying pan if he comes close to her. Janie and Delia both realize that they deserve to be treated with respect by the men who supposedly love them. Upon running away together and getting married, Jody and Janie move to an all-black community called Eatonville in which Jody eventually becomes mayor and ends up owning most of the town. Jody is very power hungry and likes to be in control. He even holds multiple positions in the community besides being mayor. Unlike Logan, Jody did not think women should work in the field or perform tough labor.He referred to Janie as his â€Å"pretty doll-baby† (29). He molded Janie into the perfect submissive â€Å"mayor’s wife†. She always had to be dressed perfectly and she was not allowed to participate in conversations in which she voiced her opinion. He was not only in control of Eatonville but he was also in full control of Janie. He frequently used violence to assert his power over her. For ins tance, if he did not enjoy a dinner she prepared, he would hit her to punish her. One day, Janie could not take being silent anymore so she jumped into a conversation with Jody and the townspeople.She made the mistake of expressing her opinion on a matter that they were debating. Outraged and humiliated by his wife’s behavior, Jody hit his wife in front of everyone to remind her of her submissiveness to him. As Jody gained power in the community, Janie continued to lose her identity and whatever was left of her marriage. Whereas Logan treated Janie as an object that he could use in the house and field, Jody treated her as an object that people could admire from afar. When Jody is on his death bed, Janie finally speaks her mind and tells him all of the flaws that he possesses.She takes all of her anger and resentment that has built up over the past twenty years and lets it out on Jody on his death bed. This event was very significant in Janie’s quest for independence. O nce again, Janie has shifted the balance of power from being the one controlled to being the controller. Jody dies very soon after Janie’s outburst. For the first time in twenty years, Janie is free again. Although Janie is content with being single and free, an unexpected visitor shows up in her life one day. Tea Cake is about twelve years younger than Janie and he possesses a care-free attitude that Janie loves.She ends up falling in love with him because of the way he makes her feel; when they are together, starts to find out her true identity. Unlike Logan and Jody, Tea Cake does not instruct Janie to play a certain role or try to silence her voice. He wants to hear her opinions and everything that she has to say. He teaches her to play checkers and other games that she was not allowed to play in her previous marriage to Jody. He even taught her how to shoot a gun. They always had fun together, no matter what they were doing. They move to the Everglades where they are abl e side by side in the field, bonding with one another every day.They view their gender roles as equal; he would cook dinner sometime while she worked in the field. One certain person does not hold power over the other one, which is very rare in marriages during this time period in their culture. In fact, when Janie get jealous of another girl to whom Tea Cake talks, she hits Tea Cake. This is a reversal of the gender roles that Janie encompassed in her previous marriages because she was usually the one being hit by her husband. When Tea Cake gets jealous of his wife and another man, he also hits Janie to remind everyone that she belongs to him.Even in a well-balanced and healthy marriage, violence is still used as a way to exert power during this time period. During an awful hurricane in the Everglades, Tea Cake is bitten by a dog with rabbis. Because he contracts rabbis, he becomes very violent and tries to kill the love of his life, Janie. For the first time ever, Janie fully asse rts her independence when she kills the only man she has ever loved in order to survive. Janie and Tea Cake’s marriage is very similar to Missie May and John Banks’ marriage in the beginning of Hurston’s short story, â€Å"The Gilded Six-Bits†.Missie May and John treat each other equally and never try to oppress one another. John does not use violence to gain power over Missie May like most husbands did during this time. The biggest similarity the two couples have is the playfulness of their relationships. Janie and Tea Cake are always playing games or doing something fun. On that same level, Missie May and John always have a â€Å"play-fight† on Saturday to â€Å"keep the spark alive†. Merriam Webster Dictionary’s definition of power is â€Å"possession of control, authority, or influence over others†.During the early 1900s in African American culture, there was a large power struggle between males and females. African America n males had been oppressed by white men for so long that in turn, they oppressed their African American women in attempt to feel powerful. Unfortunately, most people would not even blink an eye at a man hitting his wife or verbally abusing her in public. As seen in Janie’s transformation, a person cannot truly live up to their true potential until they are completely free of anything or anyone that would confine them. When Janie returns to Eatonville after Tea Cake’s death, she walks through the town with confidence.She learns not to care what other people think of her because it is not their life; it is her life and she is the one in control of it. Bibliography Hurston, Zora N. Their Eyes Were Watching God. New York: HarperCollins, 2006. Print. Hurston, Zora N. â€Å"Zora Neale Hurston's â€Å"Sweat†Ã¢â‚¬  American Literature Research and Analysis Website. University of South Florida in Fort Myers, July 1996. Web. 13 Oct. 2011. . Hurston, Zora N. â€Å"Zora Neale Hurston's â€Å"The Gilded Six-Bits†Ã¢â‚¬  American Literature Research and Analysis Website.University of South Florida in Fort Myers, July 1996. Web. 13 Oct. 2011. . â€Å"Power. † Dictionary and Thesaurus – Merriam-Webster Online. Merriam-Webster, Inc. Web. 13 Oct. 2011. . Uppling, Jill. â€Å"†Sweat† and â€Å"The Gilded Six-Bits†: Between Hurston's Biography and Education. † American Literature Research and Analysis Website. University of South Florida in Fort Myers, July 1996. Web. 13 Oct. 2011. .

What Is a Criminal Infraction

The World s Ideal Position - 1405 Words

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