Why Black People and Minorities Should Serve on Juries. by Ndiawar Diop
Jury duty might not sound exciting, but it’s super important! Imagine you have a game, and everyone gets to play, but some people are left out. That’s how it feels when Black folks and minorities aren’t part of the jury.
Let’s face the facts: lots of Black people and minorities don’t like jury duty. Understandably, they feel unsure about the fairness of the legal system. And guess what? Recent reports show that Black people are more likely to be arrested and get tough sentences. That’s not fair, right?
In the United States, Black folks and minorities end up in trials way more than others. This isn’t because they’re doing more bad stuff; it’s because of problems in the system. This means it’s even more important for them to be in jury duty to make things fairer.
But here’s the tricky part: many Black folks and minorities don’t want to do jury duty. There are reasons, though. Some folks feel upset about how the legal system treated them in the past. Others worry if their voice will even matter on a jury. And some have a hard time managing work or family responsibilities.
But hey, having more Black people and minorities in jury duty is a big deal for a few reasons:
1. Different Perspectives: Juries should look like the neighborhoods they come from. Having people from different backgrounds helps make fair decisions because they think about things in unique ways.
2. Making Trust: When Black folks and minorities are on the jury, it shows everyone that their opinions matter. It helps build trust in a system that hasn’t always been fair to them.
3. Fighting Biases: Having a mix of people in the jury helps to stop unfair judgments. Sometimes, people make decisions based on wrong ideas. Having different voices helps fix that.
Getting more Black people and minorities on juries isn’t easy, though. Some feel scared or unsure about joining. Maybe they don’t trust the system because it wasn’t fair before. Others might have a tough time juggling their job or taking care of family while doing jury duty.
But here’s the cool part: we can make things better! By building trust in Black communities, teaching why jury duty matters, and making the jury selection process fairer, everyone can feel included.
Jury duty is like a team game, and everyone’s voice matters. Imagine a team with only a few players – it’s not fair or fun! So, it’s time to bring everyone onto the field to make sure the game is fair for everyone.
By Ndiawar Diop
@ndiawardiop
www.ndiawardiop.com
