Resulting from institutional racism, there are gaping differences in the environmental quality between black and white communities. According to Robert Bullard in Richard Monk 's, Taking Sides: Clashing Views on Controversial Issues in Race and Ethnicity, “Environmental racism refers to any policy, practice, and directive, that differentially affects or disadvantages individuals, groups, or communities based on race or color” (Monk 217). Residents in African American communities experience greater health and environmental risk burdens than the society at large. This results from the nation’s environmental laws, regulations, and policies not being applied uniformly. A study by staff writers from the National Law Journal revealed that, “There
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The justice system blatantly targets and punishes African Americans in an exceedingly belligerent manner than white people. The war on drugs has accounted for the surge in arrest and sentences over the last four decades. Even though whites are equally engaged in drug offenses, possessions, and sales as African Americans, a report published by Human Rights Watch shows that “While African Americans comprise 13% of the US population and 14% of monthly drug users they are 37% of the people arrested for drug offenses” (Quigley, par. 5). The U.S. Department of Justice has revealed that since 1970, drug arrest have increased from three hundred twenty thousand to approximately two million; however, African Americans are arrested for drug offenses at rates 2 to 11 times higher than the rate for whites (Quigley, par. 6). Moreover, a vast majority of African American defendants are not given their fair rights of a trail. The American Bar Association has point out how only three to five percent of criminal cases go to trial, while the remaining are plea bargained; however, of those plea bargains, majority contain a promise of longer sentences if that individual decides to exercise their constitutional right to trial (Quigley, par. 11). As a result, African Americans are found caught up in the greatly flawed …show more content…
America has made the decision to stay colorblind and form an unequal society for African Americans and other minorities. There is presence of racial inequality and discrimination in America’s educational institutions, environment, workforce, law enforcement, and criminal justice system. In order for America to progress from its racist past, white Americans must acknowledge and accept the fact that racism still reigns sovereign in every area of the United
The justice system blatantly targets and punishes African Americans in an exceedingly belligerent manner than white people. The war on drugs has accounted for the surge in arrest and sentences over the last four decades. Even though whites are equally engaged in drug offenses, possessions, and sales as African Americans, a report published by Human Rights Watch shows that “While African Americans comprise 13% of the US population and 14% of monthly drug users they are 37% of the people arrested for drug offenses” (Quigley, par. 5). The U.S. Department of Justice has revealed that since 1970, drug arrest have increased from three hundred twenty thousand to approximately two million; however, African Americans are arrested for drug offenses at rates 2 to 11 times higher than the rate for whites (Quigley, par. 6). Moreover, a vast majority of African American defendants are not given their fair rights of a trail. The American Bar Association has point out how only three to five percent of criminal cases go to trial, while the remaining are plea bargained; however, of those plea bargains, majority contain a promise of longer sentences if that individual decides to exercise their constitutional right to trial (Quigley, par. 11). As a result, African Americans are found caught up in the greatly flawed …show more content…
America has made the decision to stay colorblind and form an unequal society for African Americans and other minorities. There is presence of racial inequality and discrimination in America’s educational institutions, environment, workforce, law enforcement, and criminal justice system. In order for America to progress from its racist past, white Americans must acknowledge and accept the fact that racism still reigns sovereign in every area of the United