injustice to black males in america
Growing up black in America is no easy task. There is a constant fight in America to get a good education, live in a great neighborhood, and be able to afford a comfortable life style. There is still oppression against not only the black community but minorities in general that stops them from succeeding. There are these systems put in place after slavery and segregation that prevent black communities from succeeding in America and truly allow them to be a part of the “democracy” we claim we have.
A democracy can only be successful if the people taking part in it are educated, influential, and part of a majority. When these things are not given to not only one person but a set group of people this is not allowing them to live the true American Dream which as much value as a white person with privilege. Specifically there is this fear of being a black man America and how you are not valued; if you are a successful black man you are threat to America’s social order.
A democracy can only be successful if the people taking part in it are educated, influential, and part of a majority. When these things are not given to not only one person but a set group of people this is not allowing them to live the true American Dream which as much value as a white person with privilege. Specifically there is this fear of being a black man America and how you are not valued; if you are a successful black man you are threat to America’s social order.
Education while black
Being a black man in America however does not start before you are a black boy. Being a boy there’s a whole new set of rules you have to follow because of it. Your whole life depends on education and sadly there has been no push to get black students in good schools where they are cared for and pushed to succeed. In America, “On average, African American twelfth-grade students read at the same level as white eighth-grade students.” (PBS). Before they even graduate high school they have a much greater disadvantage of succeeding. Not only that but also according to CBS News, “Of the young black males who do make it to college, only one in six will receive a college degree.” Keep in mind this is not only a result of most 12th graders read at an 8th grade level but a black family in America is doubled the average percentage of another family in America at a rate of 22% living in poverty. Keep in mind that that the current poverty line for a household of 4 is at 22,000 dollars a year. It becomes not only difficult to keep up with the work of being in school. But there is also a difficulty in staying in school because of the financial aspects.
Racial Profiling and bias |
Being black in America doesn’t only mean that you are for the most part less educated but it also means that you are feared. There is constant racial bias and racial profiling from teachers, police, strangers. When you are black in America you are a threat.
“About 14 million Whites and 2.6 million African Americans report using an illicit drug. 5 times as many Whites are using drugs as African Americans, yet African Americans are sent to prison for drug offenses at 10 times the rate of Whites.” (NAACP) This statistic like many others that can be found prove the idea that when you are black you are more dangerous and more likely to be stopped. |
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These types of statistics make black people not look as police at allies to protect them but enemies that they should be fearful of. Most black boys in America have a discussion with a parent or a friend explaining to them what to do if they are approached by the police. This issue became even more predominant in America after the recent cases of men and boys like Eric Garner and Mike Brown. This is not a small problem either,
“From 2006-2012 a white cop killed a black person twice a week in this country.” (MSNBC).
This number is higher than any other race in America and once again proves that we live in system of racial profiling and bias. Now the phrase “Hands Up Don’t Shoot” and “I Can’t Breathe” are seen everywhere making the statement that blacks are not trying to attack people only trying to breathe freely in America.
This all becomes a bigger problem and proves more injustice for black men in America when even a man who was video taped being choked to death by a cop does not get justice for his grieving family. When cops are not indicted in cases like this it just proves that even the thing that we pride ourselves on the most, our justice system is not accessible for a black man in America. Many people would argue that black on black crime plays a role in a blacks survival however media skews things for it to be seen that there is more black on black crime than any other race and that blacks are these violent creatures, when in all actuality “84% of white homicide victims are killed by white people” (NY Times). There are constant stereotypes surfacing that put black people in a bad light and don’t allow them to be seen as anything but criminals.
The true question that America needs to address is how can America say that we are a part of its democracy if we did not all start on the same playing field when this democracy begun and still aren’t? The black race can fight time after time again to succeed in America but until these systems put in place that prevent them to succeed most of the time they won’t.
“From 2006-2012 a white cop killed a black person twice a week in this country.” (MSNBC).
This number is higher than any other race in America and once again proves that we live in system of racial profiling and bias. Now the phrase “Hands Up Don’t Shoot” and “I Can’t Breathe” are seen everywhere making the statement that blacks are not trying to attack people only trying to breathe freely in America.
This all becomes a bigger problem and proves more injustice for black men in America when even a man who was video taped being choked to death by a cop does not get justice for his grieving family. When cops are not indicted in cases like this it just proves that even the thing that we pride ourselves on the most, our justice system is not accessible for a black man in America. Many people would argue that black on black crime plays a role in a blacks survival however media skews things for it to be seen that there is more black on black crime than any other race and that blacks are these violent creatures, when in all actuality “84% of white homicide victims are killed by white people” (NY Times). There are constant stereotypes surfacing that put black people in a bad light and don’t allow them to be seen as anything but criminals.
The true question that America needs to address is how can America say that we are a part of its democracy if we did not all start on the same playing field when this democracy begun and still aren’t? The black race can fight time after time again to succeed in America but until these systems put in place that prevent them to succeed most of the time they won’t.