BLACKS, PRISON, AND INSTITUTIONAL RACISM
Description: The title pretty much says it all in this one. This paper
addresses the issue of blacks in prison and explores the socio-economic
causes and solutions. This paper uses many govermentally commissioned
reports.
Blacks, Prison, and Institutional Racism
Introduction
Criminal justice and security is one of the largest industries in the United
States. Such a statistic is (and rightly so) of great concern to Afro-Americans
because a disproportionate percentage of individuals under the control of
the US Criminal Justice System are from the Black community. This paper
will look at the alarming statistics and attempt to trace the roots of the
disparity. It will then consider the affects and explore possible solutions
to the expanding problem.
The Imprisoned Black Youth
Black communities throughout the U.S. are witnessing the institutionalization
of their youth. Of course institutionalization is nothing new to Afro-Americans,
it is something Blacks have faced since their existence in this country.
In the beginning Blacks were forced into the institution of slavery. After
the abolition of slavery Blacks faced institutional racism, that is, racism
legitimated by the whole of society directed against the few of society.
As a facet of that institutional racism Blacks are now forced to persevere
the increasing trend of control by the US Criminal Justice System. Control
by the USCJS includes the probation, parole, imprisonment, and death of
Blacks. A study conducted by the Sentencing Project in 1989 found tat more
than one-fourth of all Blacks between the age of 20 and 29 are under the
control of the USCJS . This alarming figure becomes more so when you consider
their are more Blacks in prison in this age group than their are all Blacks
in college . This clearly reveals what is meant by the institutionalization
of our...
Statistics
Your use of dramatic statistics considerably improves the strength of your opinion =).
4 out of 4 people found this comment useful.