Racial Disparities in the American Judicial System

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As of 2010, African Americans make up 12.3% of the US population today. Also, the US makes up 5% of the world population, but make up a huge 25% of incarcerated beings globally. African Americans also make up 28% of all arrests, and consist of 40% of inmates of prison and jails. One of the most controversial topics in this decade is that African Americans are more likely to be arrested, sentenced, and to receive harsh penalties compared to white Americans. As for myself, I strongly believe that America is still greatly oppressed towards minorities, especially judicially. The Fourteenth Amendment in the US Constitution says “ All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United …show more content…

In short, the amendment consists that any US-born or naturalized citizens are subject to equal right and justification againsts the laws. As a minority myself, I don’t think this amendment is embraced enough in our society. Let's take a look back on this type of topic in the novel, The Help, by Kathryn Stockett. In the novel, Aibileen exclaims “Use the white bathroom at Pinchman Lawn and Garden. Say they wasn't no sign up saying so. Two white men chase him and beat him. […] He up at the hospital. I heard he blind"(126, Stockett). This scene empowers the sole fact that a black …show more content…

This stat is straight from the NAACP, the stat states, “African Americans now constitute nearly 1 million of the total 2.3 million incarcerated population”. Almost half the people in the United States of America in prison/jail right now are black men and women. It’s certain that some of the inmates have done wrongdoings and deserve to be there, but to realize that 45% of the people locked up in jail cells are African American tests the whole ‘Equality’ matter. Furthermore, another stat by the NAACP, they say, “About 14 million Whites and 2.6 million African Americans report using an illicit drug”. It showcases that white people have used more illicit drugs than black people yet more and more black people are getting charged for possession of narcotics. All in all, all races will commit crimes, but the way that prosecutions are executed are unfair and

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