Ferguson, MO, a small suburb outside of St. Louis, has been the recent spotlight of national media attention. The brutal killing of Michael Brown, an unarmed black teenager by Ferguson police, sparked a wave of community uproar.
The combination of entrenched discriminatory policies and a history of over-policing of communities of color created a situation like the one in Ferguson.
Unfortunately, these ingredients have come together with tragic results time and time again.
In addition to the national conversation about the militarization of police and the suppression of civil liberties, the tragedy in Ferguson brings to light an important discussion about race in this country and specifically the racist policies of our criminal justice system. Understanding what happened in Ferguson means addressing those policies that have lead to disproportionate prosecution of black people.
A recent study by the Drug Policy Alliance found that people of color do not commit crimes or do drugs at any higher rate than whites–but they are, however, prosecuted at a higher rate for those crimes. Consider these alarming facts revealed by the study:
- “African Americans comprise 14% of regular drug users, but are 37% of those arrested for drug offenses.”
- “African Americans serve almost as much time in federal prison for a drug offense as whites do for a violent offense.”
- These sort of racial disparities in our justice system contribute to the stigmatization of the black men as criminals. It creates a climate of injustice, fear and hate. And, inevitably, these sentiments are reflected in the way the police interact with the community.
If the role of the police is to protect the community from danger and stop the proliferation of crime; and the police (and society in general) operate with the prejudice that black men are the ones who commit crime, this leads to a dangerous situation. Operating under the false assumption that blacks commit crimes, black neighborhoods becomes a hunting ground for “criminals.”
Ferguson has been greatly criticized for the racial disparities within its police force (a predominantly black community with an almost all white force). But more telling than a police department that does not reflect the community it serves, is this problem of targeted policing of black neighborhoods and the over-criminalization of black people.
The truths are in the policies. Over the course of a lifetime, 1 in 3 black men has the likelihood of going to prison, as compared to 1 in 17 white men. This is due to the over-criminalization or over-policing of black communities and the lengthy unfair sentences placed on those prosecuted for these crimes.
Once released, formerly incarcerated individuals find a world of obstacles facing them, restricted from receiving federal housing and food assistance, denied the right to vote or access Pell grants. As well, finding a job with a criminal record becomes nearly impossible, greatly increasing the likelihood of re-offending and being re-absorbed into a vicious cycle. The obstacles facing black boys in this country are grave.
I say all this to paint a picture of the stark racial disparities in the U.S. criminal justice system. It also reflects the attitude that law enforcement officers bring into these communities. They see what they expect to see. The result in Ferguson was Michael Brown’s death.
I heard someone say recently, life in America is different for black people than it is for white people. This is true. Dismantling racism and prejudice may seem like a philosophical, intangible goal, but we can start by reforming the policies which systemically disenfranchise and oppress black people in this country. That is concrete.
