This chart may shock some Americans. At least I hope it will. But it is all true -- and it is unacceptable. We are quickly turning this country into the world's largest prison state. And we are doing it because we seem to think the answer to all of society's perceived problems is just to lock more people up. We should be ashamed of turning this nation, once the world's beacon of freedom, into a country where taking freedom away is thought to be an answer to anything.
The ratios of imprisoned people by color/race makes a powerful statement about crime and police action in America. But its a powerful statement that cuts both ways and really just confirms the reader's already held biases.
ReplyDeleteThe liberal assumes (correctly) that it proves the justice system is slanted against people of color. The racist assumes that it proves their racism is correct and justified.
Is there any means to prove that people of all colors commit crimes at the same rate?
Since that evidence is likely hard to come by, perhaps a breakdown of sentencing by color for the same crime would better reveal the disparity in American "justice"?