Black violence demeans race

The Atlanta Journal Constitution ^ | January 18, 2004 | Cynthia Tucker

[where's_the_Outrage?]

Martin Luther King Jr. might be pleasantly surprised by many of the changes in the nation's social fabric since his death. The civil rights movement accomplished an astonishing transformation.

But King would no doubt be quite disappointed in one area of black life that has only deteriorated since his assassination: the percentage of black men in prison.

In 1954, black inmates accounted for 30 percent of the nation's prison population, according to The Sentencing Project, a Washington-based group that advocates alternative sentencing. By the time King died, in 1968, the figure had edged up to between 35 percent and 40 percent.

Currently, black offenders account for almost half of all prison admissions. An estimated 12 percent of black men between the ages of 20 and 34 are behind bars, according to Allen Beck, chief prison demographer for the Bureau of Justice Statistics.

Beck estimates that 30 percent of black men will be incarcerated at some point in their lives.

And even that stunning figure does not capture the decimation of entire communities as young black men are taken away from home and family, away from children they might otherwise care for, mothers they might otherwise marry.

The result is that black youths are terrified by the very idea of incarceration, right? Sadly, popular culture reveals the startling influence that prison -- seen as a rite of passage in some poor black neighborhoods -- has already had on music and fashion. The baggy pants that fall down from the waist, favored first by rappers and later by many adolescent boys, are an adaptation from jail culture: When a man is arrested, jailers confiscate his belt, so his pants tend to slide down. This is the style that many youngsters have chosen to emulate.

How is a group to enter the mainstream if so many of its young men adopt prison mores as proper conduct? What community could hope to survive -- much less thrive -- if so many of its men are stigmatized with criminal records?

Given that this is the most pressing issue facing black America, you'd think that those who would take up King's mantle would devote all of their time to reducing the incarceration rate for black men. Yet, the Jesse Jacksons, Joseph Lowerys and Kweisi Mfumes flit from theme to theme -- from corporate race relations to Rebel flags -- preferring to dwell on incarceration only when a glaring case of injustice promises headlines and air time.

Injustice does exist in the criminal justice system. Consider the notorious 1999 drug sweep in Tulia, Texas, where more than 40 people -- most black -- were arrested and several sent to prison on the uncorroborated testimony of a single lawman. After complaints from civil rights organizations and media figures, a state investigation belatedly revealed the detective was unreliable. Most of the convictions were tossed out last year.

The so-called war on drugs helps explain the rising incarceration rates for black men. Though research has shown that black people are no more likely to use drugs than white people, blacks are much more likely to be arrested and imprisoned for drug crimes.

"Blacks are arrested and confined in numbers grossly out of line with their use or sale of drugs," concludes criminal justice expert Michael Tonry.

But the problem is not simply one of bigotry. The worst-kept secret in black America is the murder rate among black men.

In 2002, black men were likely perpetrators in more than 40 percent of the homicides in which a suspect was identified. They also accounted for nearly 40 percent of the nation's homicide victims (proving that black men represent the greatest threat to each other). That's a staggering statistic for a group that represents less than 6 percent of the population.

What could be more important to continuing King's legacy than turning black men away from fratricide and steering black youths away from prison?

[where's_the_Outrage?]

Yet, the Jesse Jacksons, Joseph Lowerys and Kweisi Mfumes flit from theme to theme -- from corporate race relations to Rebel flags --

Yup, wouldn't want these so called leaders to address areas such as personal responsibility and accountability.

[TheGeezer]

Though research has shown that black people are no more likely to use drugs than white people, blacks are much more likely to be arrested and imprisoned for drug crimes.

Interestingly, the racial profiling study in Cincinnati revealed that while blacks were 1.3 times more likely to be stopped while driving than whites, the rate at which drugs or drug paraphernalia were found in the car was same for both blacks and whites. In other words, blacks, at least in Cincinnati, are more likely to have drugs in their cars than whites. I think it's not unreasonable to assume greater likelihood of use.

The study also showed, therefore, good police work: drug-motivated suspicious behavior attracted police intervention.

[Kerberos]

"revealed that while blacks were 1.3 times more likely to be stopped while driving than whites, the rate at which drugs or drug paraphernalia were found in the car was same for both blacks and whites. In other words, blacks, at least in Cincinnati, are more likely to have drugs in their cars than whites. I think it's not unreasonable to assume greater likelihood of use."

I would read that to mean that if you stop 10 blacks and 5 whites and you found that 2 blacks had drugs, then only 1 white would have drugs. That would make the rate the same and would not indicate increased use of drugs by blacks over whites.

I would like to see your study.

[Navy Patriot]

In other words, blacks, at least in Cincinnati, are more likely to have drugs in their cars than whites. I think it's not unreasonable to assume greater likelihood of use.

Geezer, are you sure this is the correct conclusion considering?:

the rate at which drugs or drug paraphernalia were found in the car was same for both blacks and whites.

Or am I missing somthing here?

[hershey]

About time Cynthia said something sensible.

[Agnes Heep]

The baggy pants that fall down from the waist, favored first by rappers and later by many adolescent boys, are an adaptation from jail culture....

But at least it makes it harder for them to run.

[07055]

The worst-kept secret in black America is the murder rate among black men. In 2002, black men were likely perpetrators in more than 40 percent of the homicides in which a suspect was identified.

It might be the worst-kept secret in black America, but it is one of the best-kept secrets in the mainstream media. In Memphis, they won't even mention the race of suspects in murders---they say something like, "Police are looking for a male wearing blue jeans."

[where's_the_Outrage?]

A few years ago a Freeper remarked that Cynthia is Schizoid, she wails about bigotry, white oppression, and mean spirited Republicans, then changes and seems to take a conservative position. Only to change next week.

Most of her articles rate a BARF alert, this one was border-line.

She refuses to take the full step that there will always be discrimination (against everyone in some fashion), but blaming all troubles on someone else, expecting special rights, and denying reality (e.g., Blacks can be racist too) are not going to fix the issues.

[IronJack]

How is a group to enter the mainstream if so many of its young men adopt prison mores as proper conduct?

Worse than this, with the constant media glorification of the "gangsta" lifestyle, these mores are beginning to spread beyond the black community. Nowadays, we have middle-class white boys slinging ebonic slang and wearing their baseball hats backward. Half the black crowd adopting these behaviors are simply posers, but in the white ranks, it's pure wannabe-ism. And of all the things in the world to wannabe, a boned-out loser would be at the bottom of any sane man's list.

[FITZ]

And even that stunning figure does not capture the decimation of entire communities as young black men are taken away from home and family, away from children they might otherwise care for, mothers they might otherwise marry.

She might be pointing out the problem well enough --- but she didn't get at any solution. Once someone is into heavy crime, they're not the type who are going to take care of children or marry the mothers. The black underclass has problems like generational welfare, no jobs, no role models.

[xp38]

Actually the most important issue facing blacks is the restoration of whole families with fathers there for their children. The incarceration rates are a result of that problem.

[mtbopfuyn]

prison -- seen as a rite of passage in some poor black neighborhoods

the decimation of entire communities as young black men are taken away from home and family, away from children they might otherwise care for, mothers they might otherwise marry

Make up your mind. If black men truly wanted to be responsible family men they would keep their noses clean. Interesting phrase, "mothers they might otherwise marry", since there's such a large percent of black mothers with no husband taking responsibility for his children. Ah, there's that pesky word again, responsibility.

[Sofa King]

Of course, all of this is the white man's fault. Yep. No need for black 'leaders' to try to do something about this. Just blame GWB and they'll cheer you on.

[Cobra64]

In 2002, black men were likely perpetrators in more than 40 percent of the homicides in which a suspect was identified. They also accounted for nearly 40 percent of the nation's homicide victims (proving that black men represent the greatest threat to each other). That's a staggering statistic for a group that represents less than 6 percent of the population.

They're beating the racial quota by almost 700%.

Al and Jessa you lissnin?

[Capitalism2003]

Buy it here

[G.Mason]

Why would any American honor the legacy of MLK, when those that do, defame the legacy of our Founding Fathers?

I have my history.


carry on revisionists

[TheGeezer]

More blacks than white were stopped, but the rate at which illicit substances were found on stopped individuals was the same.

To have the same rate of illicit discovery (for want of a better term), that means that a greater number of blacks had drug stuff than whites. If the number of blacks and whites using drugs was the same, stopping a greater number of blacks would have resulted in stopping more individuals who did not have drug stuff.

If blacks were stopped for purely racist reasons, in other words, that would have resulted in more innocent black people being unnecessarily stopped. As it was, the higher number of blacks stopped resulted in a greater number of illicit drug stuff "hits". The higher rate of stopping black drivers correlated with a higher rate of illegal stuff going on.

I hope this helps. Regards.

[TheGeezer]

I think the study, which was done by The University of Cincinnati, was available at the City of Cincinnati web site.

The study was done to determine, if possible, traffic stops were racially motivated. The results showed that the higher number of blacks stopped was proabably not motivated by race, since the higher number of blacks stopped had the same rate of "illicit hits". I think I understand your concern, however, and I also understand how my conclusion cannot be applied to the larger black population. The conclusion of the study was that cops did not unnecessarily stop black drivers, since the "illicit hit" rate was the same for both blacks and whites. This conclusion cannot be applied anywhere else.

Thanks for making me think about it some more.

Regards.

[mhking]

The schizophrenia of Cynthia Tucker continues as she says something that half-way makes sense.

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[Republic If You Can Keep It]

You're correct.

In the example given above, 15 cars met a profile & were stopped. Of those, 3 had drugs. Of those, 2/3 were owned by a particular group.

Thus the rate would be 2:1 in this example.