Randall Kennedy Race Crime

In the first chapter of Randall Kennedy’s book Race, Crime, and the Law, he discusses and elaborates on the effect race has had on the development of criminal law, more specifically, covering specific issues within the justice system in relations to racial discrimination against African Americans (blacks). He uses the first chapter to give a basic overview of what each following chapter grasp; he starts by identifying the four major camps regarding the race question in criminal law. The four major camps include law and order, limiting governmental power, color blindness, and advancing the interests of blacks. First, the law and order camp, basically code words to appeal covertly to anti-Negro prejudice from those who are concerned about personal

Thirdly, the color-blind constitution, particularly, people who deny any kind of racial discrimination, but tend to reject the affirmative action against blacks who suffers from racial discrimination. Lastly, the fourth camp, individuals who are devoted and takes an interest of blacks. Mainly, explaining that people should not make false allegations of racial misconduct without maintaining evidence because it can diminish the credibility who support racial discrimination. Equally important, Kennedy expresses his political ideology “the politics of respectability”, by explaining that criminal law in the United States has been filled with racism and the justice system fails to protect blacks, however, black people play a role in the racial prejudice. To explain, he strongly feels his politics requires for blacks to avoid from engaging in conduct that might lead to offending or offend white Americans. For example, if blacks match their conduct to white Americans, white people may be more understanding and respect the racial

By reacting in this manner, blacks can be aware of the burdens placed upon them. Therefore, blacks can assist white people with distinguishing the difference between a “good” and “bad” Negro. As a result, this will prevent white people from imputing the wrongdoing of bad Negroes with the entire African American community. In sum, the association of crime with blacks is fairly important. Overall, his historical analysis touch is based on race relations in the administration of criminal justice, where he debates that the attributes of the justice system, such as racial misconduct, abusing one’s authority, unfair sentencing, jury selection, and continuous racial bias towards African Americans while claiming the only way to eliminate racial discrimination is for officials to deal lawfully and honestly with