Cultural and Structural Racism in the United States
In 2010, white people made up about 64% of the population of the United States, African Americans about 13%, and Hispanic people about 16%. However, this doesn’t carry over to those incarcerated in U.S. prisons and jails. 39% of those incarcerated are white, an entire 40% are African American, and 19% are Hispanic. This widespread disparity doesn’t just come from one racist cop, or one racially biased law, it comes from centuries of cumulative disadvantages all biased against those not perceived as white. Unfortunately for those who work tirelessly to combat this cultural racism, it would be easier to find parts of the criminal justice system that didn’t benefit from stereotypes and biases …show more content…
Those who cannot afford to pay bail must stay in jail until their court date, and arrive in such clothes that the jury is already linking them with the concept of jail. Those who cannot afford to pay an expensive lawyer must rely on an overworked public defender who may not have the time or energy to properly defend their case. Past misdeeds, gender, appearance, demeanor, accent, and job history are all examples that inform and fulfill all of the courtroom actors’ stereotypes that motivate how they move …show more content…
Examples include an increased presence of organizations that help poor minority children get the education and the employment they need, which can help prevent the beginnings of the criminal cycle, a massive reexamination of laws and statues to curb racial bias, better protocols in place for bail that doesn’t discriminate against the poor, proper programs of rehabilitation and proper support for those reentering society, and changing the rules that prevent an estimated 5.85 million Americans from voting in elections that affect their very lives. However the most important step to beginning all of these possible solutions is education. Education at every level from kindergarten to police academies to courts of law, education that reaches everyone and begins the steps to end the cultural and unconscious racism that influences the culture of almost everything in the United States. Without learning how racism affects everyone every day, without learning how racism gives privileges and discriminations to each of us every day there is no way that these unjust practices will ever end unless we stop them because we know why it’s
In 2010, white people made up about 64% of the population of the United States, African Americans about 13%, and Hispanic people about 16%. However, this doesn’t carry over to those incarcerated in U.S. prisons and jails. 39% of those incarcerated are white, an entire 40% are African American, and 19% are Hispanic. This widespread disparity doesn’t just come from one racist cop, or one racially biased law, it comes from centuries of cumulative disadvantages all biased against those not perceived as white. Unfortunately for those who work tirelessly to combat this cultural racism, it would be easier to find parts of the criminal justice system that didn’t benefit from stereotypes and biases …show more content…
Those who cannot afford to pay bail must stay in jail until their court date, and arrive in such clothes that the jury is already linking them with the concept of jail. Those who cannot afford to pay an expensive lawyer must rely on an overworked public defender who may not have the time or energy to properly defend their case. Past misdeeds, gender, appearance, demeanor, accent, and job history are all examples that inform and fulfill all of the courtroom actors’ stereotypes that motivate how they move …show more content…
Examples include an increased presence of organizations that help poor minority children get the education and the employment they need, which can help prevent the beginnings of the criminal cycle, a massive reexamination of laws and statues to curb racial bias, better protocols in place for bail that doesn’t discriminate against the poor, proper programs of rehabilitation and proper support for those reentering society, and changing the rules that prevent an estimated 5.85 million Americans from voting in elections that affect their very lives. However the most important step to beginning all of these possible solutions is education. Education at every level from kindergarten to police academies to courts of law, education that reaches everyone and begins the steps to end the cultural and unconscious racism that influences the culture of almost everything in the United States. Without learning how racism affects everyone every day, without learning how racism gives privileges and discriminations to each of us every day there is no way that these unjust practices will ever end unless we stop them because we know why it’s