The Disproportionate Incarceration of African Americans - Essay Example

INCARCERATION RATES Introduction In the recent past there have been a sharp distinction and clear skewness in the number of peopleincarcerated at correctional facilities and prisons in the United States of America. This phenomenon and situation obviously calls for attention and focus so as to try to understand why the situation and scenario is so. Specifically, it calls for an analysis and inquiry into the structural formation of the criminal justice system and the racial historical disposition of the United States of America. Similarly, the economic disparities and other variables which might contribute to the high rates of African American incarceration would also be considered at length. In principle, this research paper will delve into the issue of the uncharacteristically high number of incarcerations in the direction of the African Americans over and above other races in the country. The research study will also look into the likely causes and reasons as to why the number of African Americans lead the count for incarceration. On the positive light, it would also offer some of the likely remedies to correct and cure the situation for the better. Prevalence and incarceration rates of African Americans . Official records and data point to the direction that by the close of the year 2003, the 10.4% total population of African American men between the ages of twenty five and twenty nine were serving time in incarceration facilities. This is a contrast and a small number compared to the number of 2.4% of Hispanic men (Mauer & King, 2007). It is important to note and mention that Hispanic men include the Latino American and people of the Iberian origin such as Spaniards. Lastly, only a pastry of population of the whites, who were neither Hispanic nor black were incarcerated (Mauer & King, 2007). Body Prospective causes as to why African Americans lead in incarceration rates The human society is predominantly structured and subdivided into ways that classify people into caste systems of systems of social classification. Naturally, the economic might, political influence, religious disposition are the conventional benchmarks used to gauge caste or status system (DuBois, 2013). The United States of America was however a different kind of society where racial segregation is rife with the under-caste or the despised race being the blacks. Thus, it is likely that African Americans regard and consideration by the American society robs them off the dignity of being considered humane and equal citizens with other races. This implies that they are stereotyped into being second rate citizens in all their endeavors of their lives. For instance, when they are denied equal life opportunities such as in education or employment, the society then curtails their natural abilities to live proper and meaningful lives. Secondly, the history of the nations has predisposed the blacks into unfair treatment by other races. The fact that the blacks were slaves in the last two centuries placed and left a permanent mark in the lives of the successive generations of African Americans. They have always struggled to get even with other members of the society so as to have equal opportunities and fair or decent livelihoods. In so doing, the society has not been receptive or cooperative to that effect, making the African Americans explore other options and alternatives of survival. As a payback for the African Americans-for the many years of enslavement and unfair treatment, they resort to violence and crime. In brief, the historical injustices committed by past societies against the African American have now come to haunt the society as a whole. If the society cannot provide an equalizing mechanism to correct the historical injustices and anomalies against the Blacks, then the African Americans may resort to unorthodox means to make ends meet. Similarly, institutionalized racism and stereotypes have been a major cause in the incarceration of blacks. It is a negative prejudice that if something wrong such as robbery or petty theft occurs in a place then the first suspect would be the blacks. Apparently, the stereotype has been institutionalized to wrongly incarcerate blacks even without due process just because the color of their skins “sells them out.” Thus, the high number of the remanded people could also be occasioned by the fact that stereotypes in the society work against them. In principle, most of the African Americans were arrested based on circumstantial evidence, hearsay, innuendos and then their fate is cemented by the negative stereotypes of blacks being criminals. Another aspect that cannot escape attention is the constitution of the criminal justice system. From the police officers, the judges, lawyers and jury members have very few blacks. As much as criminal convictions and proceedings are based on evidence, it cannot be objectively confirmed as such if the society itself is stereotyped and skewed against African Americans. A practical case and instance is the fact that most of the people who were recently released from prisons due to wrongful incarceration were convicted by all white juries and judges. Naturally, the African Americans do not stand any chance of fair trial if the jury, the lawyers, the arresting officers all come from the white race and a society laden with negative stereotypes to the African Americans. Thus, the composition of the criminal justice system has also been a contributing fact accordingly. Similarly, there is the aspect and notion of cultural acceptance amongst the African American communities that the incarcerated people are cool or best. This is the reason as to why younger generations of African American populations are not discouraged despite the glaring evidence and records that show them leading the pack. It is proper to mention and assert that the arrests and incarceration culture has become sort of a norm in the lives of the African Americans and a person or an African American is hardly discouraged if he is incarcerated. On the contrary that becomes a way of ushering that person into the “hood” or the society and earning such a person respect. A practical case and instance is the fact that most hip-hop rappers of African American descent sort of try to get incarcerated by doing petty crimes or things a person would ordinarily not do. The end aim and game is to inspire respect and recognition by “having served time.” Consequences of high number of African Americans incarcerations The effect of African Americans in the ages of twenty four to twenty nine being incarcerated has an impact not only on the society but their own individuals’ families as well. Naturally, at this age, these people are supposed and expected to be economically productive. Therefore when they are locked away, their economic productivity reduces and so will the level of welfare of their families. Similarly, the incarcerated individual himself suffers emotional and psychological torture and trauma. Especially if the person was convicted on wrongful evidence and falsified witnesses, such a person becomes emotionally broken and betrayed at the fairness of the justice system. Such people set out to revenge such issues against the witnesses or even the jury members just to get even with them. On a large scale, the society as a whole loses on the productivity of such young people. For instance, such people may have been productive members of the society and improve the economy by being job creators for example. Secondly young energetic people raise families and ensure families and lineage of the society continues. If one was a parent then the child would grow up with a father and possible repeat and continue the cycle of crime or hardship and poverty to the society. If a person grows without fatherly love and direction, such a child is likely to lose track of the right path of life in terms of morals or vision for his or her future. Intuitively, the African American population and society as a whole would grow their hate and dislike of the police force and other races. If the records are anything to go, the African Americans would feel that they are being targeted and made victims of circumstances by the state or government by being picked on. Therefore, the rest of the African American population, including those who would not have been incarcerated would hate the state or the police and the other races because they would feel that they are targets. As a result, they would shun any association with other races or the state in form of protest. Prospective solutions to the issue of high number of African Americans incarceration To begin with, there ought to be plans and mechanisms to guide and direct the African Americans at their formative years. This could be while they are still in basic school where they form foundations and lines of their lives. For instance, counselors and life coaches could give them guidance and directions on life to ease them up on any negative anger or energy which they may misplace and take to crime. Secondly, the government and authorities ought to spend more money on rehabilitating the behavior and conduct of the ex-convicts. The rehabilitations would ensure that they are accepted back into the society comfortably. In the same line of thought and respect, programs such as Black male Achievement should also be encouraged. This aim at targeting the youths and the young people at their formative years so as to guide them in life accordingly. This stems from the fact that the trends, evidence and available information has pointed to the direction that the African Americans are likely to end up in incarceration centers (Parry, 2013). Thus, the preventive measures and approaches such as counseling and coaching programs to target the prospective candidates of incarceration and thus guide them appropriately and accordingly in their lives. Similarly, there must be societal cooperation by all the stakeholders so as to ensure that the remedial measures come to light or are turned to reality. All stakeholders in this situation would include people of all races, the state and the criminal justice system. Such a cooperation would easily allow for people to engage their positive energies and synergies their thoughts to face the reality on the ground while embracing the remedial measures. Conclusion The above essay has outlined and articulated the reasons as to why the number of African American men incarcerated is higher than all the other races. There are several factors, such as past historical injustices which have spilled over to the current society, negative stereotypes, under caste systems and a society composed of an unbalanced racial aspects in the criminal justice system. It has also articulated the prospective remedies that could be used to correct the society and guide it to better times of reduced incarceration of African Americans (Wakefield & Uggen, 2010). For instance, the young boys could be targeted through preventive mechanisms and programs such as guidance and counselling in schools. This also calls on the federal state to spend more resources and money in rehabilitation efforts of the ex-condemned members of the states so as to guide them accordingly in the path of life. The irreducible minimum is that the whole society ought to work in the same side so as to overcome the negative stereotypes and have better results from the proposed remedial measures. References DuBois, J. (2013). The Fight for Black Men. Newsweek Global, 1. Mauer, M. & King, R. (2007). Uneven justice: state rates of incarceration by race and ethnicity. Sentencing Project. Retrieved from http://www.sentencingproject.org/doc/publications/rd_stateratesofincbyraceandethnicity.pdf Parry, M. (2013). The American Police State. Chronicle Of Higher Education, 60(12), B6-B10. Wakefield, S., & Uggen, C. (2010). Incarceration and stratification. Annual Review of Sociology, 36, 387-406. Read More