How do we explain the minority (Blacks, Latinos) of the population filling 90% of the Jails and prisons in the United States ?
The United States is known around the Globe as the “Land of the Free”; Is that the reason why so many people come in search of better lives, in pursuit of dreams to build better lives, pay taxes, raise families just after entering illegally, fleeing persecution or certain death in their home country ?
Since 2016 the anti-immigrant sentiment and the Racism are much more stronger pending a new face for America and creating a real and genuine fear of “the other” in this Blessed country.
What many people around the World see as a beautiful fusion of nationalities, cultures and ethnicities (a rich tapestry of human representation), is being seen by the Racist and Bigot as a threat to their power; and the only solution they have to calm down their fear is to use their position of decision they occupy at the present moment to discriminate and exclude making the beautiful community we are living in a very unequal society by keeping the minorities and the foreigners down and out.
Those Racist and Bigot are the one trying so hard to convince the American people to believe that most (if not all) immigrants to the U.S are, in fact, rapists, murderers or criminals; knowing very well that most immigrants are actually decent human beings trying to give themselves a better shot at life in this Great Nation.
When in March 2019 Gov. Gavin Newsom suspended the death penalty in California after his brilliant election as the New California Governor, he cited an “Ineffective, Irreversible and Immoral” process that, from trial to execution, is tainted by racial discrimination. Many didn’t appreciate it but the new governor knows very well what he is talking about. There are no places for Racists and Bigots in America especially in Our Judicial System. Many studies have shown that the killing and the incarceration of black and Latino citizens are at a rate higher than those groups’ share of the population; Did we ask why ?
African Americans bear the brunt of the bigotry; they’re the most overrepresented on death row and in many county jails and something need to be done. In a state (California) that is only 6% black, more than one-third of defendants sentenced to death in California are black. Decades of studies have uncovered ways that race can tip the scales.
Many criticize the American Justice Systems but we must remember that the system didn’t create itself, we are being lazy in letting the Bigots and the racists people occupying positions whereby they can eliminate or obstruct whoever they don’t like. We are all almost feeling comfortable because it didn’t affect us but we must remember that if it doesn’t effect us now, it will surely affect our love ones, our best friend, our grand children, etc…
The famous thinker and prominent Lutheran pastor in Germany, Martin Niemöller, has said it all “First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out — because I was not a socialist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out— because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me — and there was no one left to speak for me.”
We all speak closed doors about it and making so many researches about this phenomenon but never anyone elevated to the National and international level for the people behind it to stop. We always thinking that it will only happen to the other person.
After reading the book of Stanford University Professor of Psychology Jennifer L. Eberhardt “Biased: Uncovering the Hidden Prejudice That Shapes What We See, Think, and Do”, I couldn’t prevent myself from asking so many questions that may be many other U.S citizens asking and are not able to find the plausible answer. According to the 2015 U.S Census Bureau estimates, California’s population was almost 73% White, 15% Asian, 7% Black or African American, 2% Native American, 1% Pacific Islander etc…
According to another Census estimates from 2015, Latinos and Blacks are the largest racial group by far in the California Prison System which means that African Americans (Black) and the Latinos are overrepresented in the State’s Prison System.
Does that mean Latinos and African American (Blacks) the worst citizens ?
There are Only two (2) possibilities:
- Or the minorities (Blacks, Latinos and No White) are the ‘Law Breakers’ and therefore the ‘Undesirable’ citizens and the criminals;
- Or there are so many Racists citizen occupying high functions and working hardly to eliminate them leading to this SYSTEMIC RACISM we’re all talking about.
How come less than 27% of the California Population (Minorities ‘Latinos & Blacks’) are by far outnumbering the 73% Whites in the Jails and Prisons System in California?
Does it make any sense that Hispanics and Blacks (African Americans) make up 60% of the California State’s Adult Population if they only represent less than 30% of the State Population ?
By making some research about the Incarceration Rate per 1000 by race in Riverside County, anybody driven by Humanity Spirit would be outraged by the result. Let’s take a look.
Incarceration Rates per 1000 by race in Riverside County Jails:
| TOTAL | BLACK | LATINO | ASIAN/PACIFIC | WHITE |
| 4.4 | 17.3 | 4.4 | 0.2 | 3 |
Today with the raise of the Black Live Matter movement, we all focus on the Police Brutality while in silence Black People Dreams are being killed in Bright Day Light in the Name of Whiteness to eliminate any Competition disqualifying All Minorities from the Opportunities America is giving to its citizens.
We must look deeper than the Visible Part of the Iceberg as Sometimes killing someone’s dream is way worse than killing him physically; and the places where Black People Dreams Vanish slinkily are THE COURTS AND THE DISTRICT ATTORNEYS OFFICES where Bigots D.A’s and Racists Judges in the Name of their Government Functions use Law Enforcement and the Judicial System to exercise their enormous amounts of Power, which could be used later against the Non-whites citizens (Not All whites but most of them especially those who could not keep the privileges Slavery and Discrimination gave their families years ago) to deprive them of their freedom, search them and their dwellings, seize their property and use force against them.
This kind of abuse of power is legally permitted under specific circumstances and Bigots and Racists law enforcement officers know it very well and they don’t hesitate to apply it when necessary to feed their Ego.
We need to build a New America taking advantage of the Diversity and the Melting pot Aspect which are what made America be the Greatest Nation on Earth.
We also must develop strategies that make it Impossible for the Racists and Bigots to access High Governmental Positions to enslave those racially different from them. As law enforcement officers and Judges rank among the most powerful occupations in Society, the ability to use the power must be controlled by Higher Authority.
We all believe in the Criminal Justice System, but are we aware that it is being manipulated by the Bigots Prosecutors and Racist Judges ?
How long are we going to let these super power racist individuals continue to impact negatively the lives of millions of innocent minority people incarcerated, their families and entire communities across the United States ?
President-Elect Joe Biden has some real works to do !
By Ndiawar Diop
ndiawardiop15@hotmail.com
