Throughout the autobiography of Richard Wright, Black Boy, society had twisted notions that enforced the idea of prejudice towards African Americans. Although this slowly faded into a memory of the people living in America, it never completely disappeared. However, society has improved drastically in the course of 60 years. Today, change is eminent in the law enforcement and educational rights. Many laws and amendments made since the mid 1900’s have proven how society went through a process which evolved the nation from one that Richard saw throughout his lifetime into one with laws that protect everyone’s rights. Discrimination has occurred in the law enforcement with police brutality, but today, many police officers are wearing body cameras and people on the street always have their phones with them to
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When Richard Wright was a child, many of the officers (whites) ignored cases of violence, and if people witnessed unjust violence towards African Americans, they did not call the police because they knew they would not do anything to help. For instance, when the black woman was being beaten where Richard worked stocking shelves, no one did anything to help her because they feared what would happen to them if they went against the social nomal and “the racial roles (...) we had been born to.” (Wright 83). A recent report by NPR (National Public Radio) reflected upon the history of lynchings in America. They said that goal of mobs was “to make the white community feel safe” (NPR). However, this should have been the police keeping the community safe, not from the blacks, but from crimes like the lynchings. Today, the definition of ‘law enforcement’ is “the term that describes the individuals and agencies responsible for enforcing laws and maintaining public order and public safety.” (Bureau of Justice
When Richard Wright was a child, many of the officers (whites) ignored cases of violence, and if people witnessed unjust violence towards African Americans, they did not call the police because they knew they would not do anything to help. For instance, when the black woman was being beaten where Richard worked stocking shelves, no one did anything to help her because they feared what would happen to them if they went against the social nomal and “the racial roles (...) we had been born to.” (Wright 83). A recent report by NPR (National Public Radio) reflected upon the history of lynchings in America. They said that goal of mobs was “to make the white community feel safe” (NPR). However, this should have been the police keeping the community safe, not from the blacks, but from crimes like the lynchings. Today, the definition of ‘law enforcement’ is “the term that describes the individuals and agencies responsible for enforcing laws and maintaining public order and public safety.” (Bureau of Justice