Systemic Racism

There are often upsetting numbers thrown about regarding the disproportionate number of African Americans incarcerated compared to Caucasian Americans. The when you add in the numbers/percentages of other minorities, the picture is even more disturbing. It s easy to argue that socio-economic status is the cause (lack of money leads to lack of good defense leads to increased chances of incarceration). It is becoming increasingly apparent that the disparity in these numbers may also be due directly to racism.

More disturbing is the idea that crimes may have a decreased response from law enforcement if it is a crime against a minority. Again SES could be blamed, but the widespread nature of it suggests that it too could be due to  systemic racism.

It could be that the history if segregation in our country, which legally ended in 1967 but continues via ghettos, is also continued in the culture of the justice system. Disturbing, but this could lead to a culture of racism in the justice system that could be conscious or subconscious. This coupled with the people who are actively racist explains the racism in our justice system.