Author: kayla96h

We elected our first black president in 2008 and many americans felt that it signaled the end the long history of oppression of black people in the united states. Yes, in the present day we are seeing more and more black people in high-positions of power, but they also experience discrimination in law enforcement. Videos of unarmed black americans being beaten, shot, and killed have created a divide between police and the black community. Due to these numerous horrific deaths, Black Lives Matter, a movement in which people of all races are fighting for justice for black people has gained a lot of traction. They also experience institutional racism throughout their lives.

The racial gaps within education and employment are prevalent. Many African Americans who face jail time, can’t re-enter society or find work and are forced to live a life of poverty and use illegal means to make money. And considering far too many people are being incarcerated each year, for small crimes that are targeted by police to prevent larger crimes from being committed (a controversial policing strategy), this employment issue is far-reaching. With regards to education, It is noted that kids who do well in school, have a greater chance of success later. And those who do well, often have a strong support system at home. But doing well has not been easy for blacks. They are often in schools where the majority of students are poor, and compared to whites they are extremely behind in math and reading. Many people want to desegregate schools again because while technically black and white students are going to school together, it is not in proportionate numbers.  Also, students must go to schools within their community and if they live in a poor one, chances are their school is not being given adequate funding or resources.

While glaring racism is not a regular occurrence anymore, more subtle institutionalized racism is still happening every day. Considering the issues for black people are starting when they are just beginning school, it is difficult for them to have any sort of upward mobility. If we are going to start somewhere, it should be in the schools. It is in school where a child’s life is carved out.

It was interesting to read that women are involved in gangs more often than in the past. In some circumstances, it is completely out of their control and against their will. Women, particularly young girls, are sex trafficked. Because prostitution and credit card fraud go unnoticed by police, and are considered lesser crimes than violent crimes and drug dealing, gang members are increasingly choosing to earn money in these less risky ways so that if they are caught, they will face less jail time. The idea that women are also choosing to take on leadership roles in gangs made me think of last week’s reading.

Last week, we were discussing that women are not subjected to being stopped and frisked by the police frequently because it is less likely that they are doing something illegal or are carrying out criminal activity. With this reading, I am realizing even that judgment is incorrect. While the numbers are still small, more women than ever before are becoming active in gangs. In the chapter, Christina Hoag says that girls, more so than boys, are joining gangs for the protection and “family” they provide. The majority of these women report that their actual family members have abused them, sexually and physically. However, Hoag points out that the women are not protected, rather they are treating badly by the men gang members. Some women are used for prostitution, while others buy weapons or hide drugs or even fugitives. Women are the secret weapon of the gangs because they are not suspected by the police.

From using the internet, to committing “low priority” crimes, gangs are changing with the times and finding new ways to stay strong. Simply putting more people behind bars isn’t helping to prevent gangs from committing crimes. We have to make sure our youth don’t join them in the first place. They need to feel that they have another, preferably legal way of making money and feel that they will be safe if they don’t align themselves with a gang. As I’m realizing more and more, that won’t be easy. There are many more definitive problems than there are solutions.

Having read that Black and Latino drivers were stopped at a much higher rate than Whites, and yet they were much less likely to find evidence of crime, is a clear sign that racial profiling is very wrong. I think it goes to show that white people are only pulled over when they are clearly doing something illegal or suspicious. On the other hand, minorities have to fear being pulled over, or stopped and frisked, for the way they look. Not only are they stopped but there have been far too many deaths of unarmed black people, specifically young people.

With Facebook Live, and people filming these horrific events, more people than ever are realizing the issues with policing. The relationship between the police and the black community is strained. There is so much tension. I am a white woman; I don’t have to fear that the police are out to get me. They need to every day. Instead of thinking that the police want to protect them, they are unfairly targeted as criminals. This issue is so difficult because cops need to know that they can protect themselves, but they also need to learn when their unconscious bias is causing them to see things that aren’t there, like a weapon. On a daily basis, officers need to use intuition and logic. A feeling that someone is suspicious should not be based on someone’s skin color.

I’m realizing more and more that there are no simple solutions to these issues. We need to profile, in some capacity, to be safe, and act intelligently. We are constantly judging people based on appearances, age, gender etc. to decide whether we are in a safe or dangerous situation or with dangerous people. However, the gut feeling that cops are following, that people of color are more suspicious, is incorrect. There needs to be extensive training for cops to learn how to pick up on actual suspicious activity, and how to proceed with things without the situation escalating. When documenting the “stop and frisk”, they should have to describe the suspicious activity. It can’t just be a feeling based on the race of the individual.