Race, Racism, and Racial Disparities in Police Brutality
I. Introduction
In recent years and in light of recent tragedies, police actions, specifically police brutality, has come into view of a large, public and rather critical eye. The power to take life rests in the final stage of the criminal justice system. However, the controversy lies where due process does not. While the use of deadly force is defined and limited by departmental policies, it remains an act guided chiefly by the judgment of individual officers in pressure situations. (Goldkamp 1976, 169). Many current studies have emphasized the racial disparities in minority deaths, primarily black Americans, killed by police through means of deadly force. The history of occurrences reveals the forlorn truth that police reforms only receive attention in wake of highly publicized episodes of police misconduct. The notorious 1992 Los Angeles riots brought the matter to mass public attention and prompted improved law enforcement policy. Significant local reforms resulted, for instance, ending the policy of lifetime terms for police chiefs. Additionally, on a broader platform, in 1994, Congress approved provisions to the Crime Control Act in effort to tackle police abuse in a more structured way.
Unfortunately, today these account for mostly failed attempts. More than two decades later and with a growing number of incidents, the fatal shooting of teenager Michael Brown by a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri, has
Over the past few years, there has been steady increase of law enforcement violence, brutality and deadly force. Many have said the news media along with social media has shed more light on these incidents and caused negative backlash from society as a whole. The spotlight of these incidents has also shown that this violence seems to be racially driven. Blacks and other minorities seem to be the targets of these attacks from those who we trust to protect and serve. The public has begun to cry out because African Americans and other minorities seem to be the targets of the public attacks. Because of the public outcries, it is necessary to identify the major issues related to these acts of violence and excessive force by law enforcement and demand that the justice system and law enforcement agencies rectify the situation.
There is no question that police brutality, when it occurs, is one of the most egregious violations of public trust that a public servant can commit. Police officers, those individuals taxed with protecting the public from danger, should never be in a situation where they pose a threat to the public. Furthermore, there is no question that police brutality occurs. Moreover, generally when there are allegations of police brutality, there has been some type of underlying violent incident. In addition, while issues of brutality may seem clear-cut to a disinterested observer, it is critical to keep in mind that law enforcement officers are not presented with textbook examples of the appropriate or inappropriate use of force, but real-life scenarios involving quick decisions. There are many arrest and non-arrest scenarios where officers need to use force to protect self or others; and the degree of force required may be greater than what a disinterested observer would assume. Another recurrent issue in debates about police brutality is that racial bias appears to be a motive behind police brutality. When one considers that minorities are disproportionately likely to be arrested and convicted of crimes, one would expect to find a disproportionate number of minorities among those alleging police brutality. Therefore, while acknowledging that police brutality, when it occurs, is a serious problem, the reality is that most
Unfortunately, today these account for mostly failed attempts. More than two decades later and with a growing number of incidents, the fatal shooting of teenager Michael Brown by a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri, has elicited a new and essential call for reform. Improved
Police brutality is a controversial issue that has recently been in the news, but seems to have always been an issue in America. Police brutality refers to the intentional use of verbal or physical attacks directed towards individuals by the police force that result in false arrests, sexual abuse, or death. (Dudley, William 13.) Most of these actions are linked to racial profiling: the targeting of individuals for suspicion of crime based solely on the individual’s race, ethnicity, religion, or national origin. (Dudley, William 13.) Statistics about how often racial profiling and police brutality occurs, movements such as Black Lives Matter and Blue Lives Matter, and police reform efforts are just a few points as to why this topic is so controversial today.
The mandatory imprisonment policies written for the judicial system are creating disparity of minority inmate population primarily due to non-violent drug crimes and the unjust mandatory minimum sentencing laws.
A young man’s brutal death at the hands of the police is found justified in a court of law due to his “suspicious” appearance: a black hoodie and his hands in his pocket. An elderly woman is fatally shot in her home for her relation to a suspected criminal. A married man with two toddlers is choked to death after a minor traffic stop by an officer who later claimed that his unarmed victim was wielding a gun. These people all have a few commonalities: the color of their skin, their presumed guilt at first sight, and their ultimate unjustified death administered by the law force. These are not uncommon occurrences. Due to the staggeringly disproportionate rate of African-Americans killed by the police, and the underlying rampant racial profiling, police brutality towards blacks in America must be called to light.
truly concerned me growing up. Raised on the North side of San Antonio, Texas, I was never
On an ordinary day, March 3rd 1991, Rodney Glen King became an icon of racial tension in the United States. Following a high-speed chase, King was severely beaten by the LA Police. These four policemen were accused of “charges of assault with a deadly weapon and excessive use of force by a police officer.” This resulted in a 3-month trial, after which the police officers were released. The jury was predominately white, suggesting the conception of racial inequality, which triggered riots all over LA. (1) This paper argues that racial discrimination in policing results in unwarranted treatment, incarceration, and death.
Police brutality is not a new subject. It has been around for numerous years, and like most issues, has resurfaced to the public’s eyes. The recent events brought up the question: Does there need to be a reform in the system in the police system? In this year alone, there have been countless cases of individuals being harmed or even killed by police officers for reasons that continuously are not explained. What has people more attentive to this injustice are statistics showing that most victims in these police attacks happen to be African Americans and other minorities.
Segregation and Racism. Time and time again when we talk about these topics we go back to the early 1900s and late 1800s. During this time African Americans were treated with with the most othe most of disrespect. Lynchings would happen with the simplicity of an African American making an accidental mistake which is found offensive by communities yet is not considered law. We hear many saying that there is finally justice in today 's time, but is there really? What if hints of racial profiling and injustice are being dropped all the time yet we are naive to pick up? On July 17, 2014, Eric Garner, a 43 year-old, African American male was selling unlicensed cigarettes on the streets of Staten Island, New York City. Undercover NYPD officers approached Garner and confronted him while Garner denied and attempted resisted arrest as officers handcuffed him. Finally Daniel Pantaleo, one of the many officers, put Garner into a chokehold and took his life after he said he couldn’t breathe, 11 times. Months later the Supreme court let Pantaleo go free of charges. Although some argue that Garner shouldn’t have resisted arrest and his health conditions caused him to pass away, Garner’s death and trial is an injustice because Garner clearly begged for air and was being handled with excessive force; the problem of racial injustice could be solved through a re-trial without racial profiling for Garner and many others.
Families are not always perfect. Indeed, many times as a member of a conservative white family, I have found myself listening to a few rather racist and discriminatory conversations. Now, this is not saying that my family is made up of terrible people, merely that they need to be educated on these issues. The issue that was brought up at my last family dinner was the topic of college, and how minorities (specifically blacks) receive better treatment than whites. After listening to my family, I realized that they were expressing three theories on race and ethnicity: the Human Ecology, Social Darwinist, and Culture of Poverty perspectives were all intermingled in the conversation. Recently, race relations has been a topic for debate in the United States, with many saying that racism is a thing of the past. However, based upon my family’s debate, and the many sources that research the issues, it can be seen that the topic of racism, race, and ethnicity are all still relevant topics in America.
On March 2, 1991, a brutal beating of a 26 year old man by the Los Angeles Police department, set tensions high between the black community and the police department, not only in Los Angeles but all across the country. This is not only considered an extremely controversial incident, but also a contradicting case. Is it a coincidence, or has the justice system failed to charge and imprison police officers who use excessive force on black members of society? By analyzing the incidents leading up to this event, the actual evidence presented in the trial, and the police reports and conversations post beating of Rodney King, it will be clear whether or not justice was served and how the results of this trial affected the Los Angeles community, and policing in the U.S for years to come.
This paper will discuss the racial microaggression how it has influenced the United States in the past decade. Then, describe the racial microaggression influence that affects the individual view. Next describe the community-level influence, impact of racial microaggression, and racial stereotypes are a major problem in our society. Then, discuss the research on racial microaggression is it a social condition that can arise as a result of the conformity of individuals within a society. Also, explain conformity, social, condition, and socially as well as, the attitudes and beliefs, norms, and implicit behaviors. However, discuss the culture in society along with the
This research study “Race, Racism, and Discrimination: Bridging Problems, Methods, and Theory in Social Psychological Research”, (Bobo 2003) explains why people become racist. No one is born a racist this is something that taught or imprinted by your peers and parents. This study just wanted to find way to stop stereotypes and discrimination based on race. They addressed three guidelines for future research about discrimination which is engages minority group, create theoretical and methodological bridges, expand on how gender intertwines with
There’s the saying that history repeats itself, and although the second time around might not be exactly like the first it’s the same in context. Majority of people can agree that forms of racism is still present in the 2000’s and others may beg to differ, but rather Americans acknowledge this or not it still stands that racism, discrimination etc still exists today. Today we face racism and discrimination more discreetly than they did during slavery and segregation. Inequality in the workplace and schools still exist. Police brutality among the African American community is still an issue. Although there has been some improvement for African Americans; America has yet to completely grant us equal rights. The issues that we face are important, but what we 're going to do about it is the important question to answer. Back in the old days black and some white came together as a community nationwide. They stood up for each other from north to south. They fought and got changes made together as a group to change the racism and discrimination. Although some of these things still go on today, it’s not as bad. They were successful in their fight. In today’s society these issues are being publicized and now we see there are still some issues that the new generations need to fight and yet I don’t believe we will be as successful. There are three reasons why I feel like we won’t be as successful; one we’re no longer a community, two we are blind/uneducated about what is actually