Social Injustice
Disproportionate Incarceration of Black Men
Purpose of project
This is related to To Kill A Mockingbird because, in the book Mockingbirds are symbols of innocence. In the book Atticus says to Jem and Scout, "Mockingbirds don't do one thing, make music for us to enjoy. They don't eat up peoples gardens, don't nest in corn cribs, They don't do but one thing, sing their hearts out for us. That's why its a sin to kill a mocking bird." In the book Tom is the Mockingbird, because he is wrongly convicted. Tom has to go to prison and, ends up being killed, when he did nothing wrong.
It is related to Bryan Stevenson's TED talk because of the loss of identity he spoke about. Mr. Stevenson says we have lost our identity because we do not talk about our issues. We do not educate our selves on the problems. Also because people disconnect themselves from the issue. Americans choose not to talk about the issues, because they don't see it as their problem. It's not our struggle. It's not our burden. It is, however, an American problem.
The purpose of the project is to become educated on issues and injustices. To talk about the issues and reconnect ourselves to our problems. It is to realize the extremity of these issues and be able to help with the problems.
Modern Day Mockingbirds
The Issue is that our justice system is corrupt. This is show through the following example. Black men are more likely to be jailed than white men, Since 1960 their rate of incarceration has increased. The determination of whether or not a prisoner will be given the death penalty, is mostly relied on race, not what they did, or previous offenses. Black people are jailed at nearly 6 times the rate of white people.
By white police officers and jurors black men are viewed as dangerous, predatory, & more inclined to criminal activity which is not always the case. Black men are usually not given the benefit of the doubt, and definitely not viewed as innocent until proven guilty. 34% of black men in Alabama have permanently lost the right to vote. While walking in the street, an unarmed black man, Micheal Brown, caught a police officers attention. Micheal Brown ended up being shot to death by the police officer. These are examples of how black men are the modern day mockingbirds of this issue.
Social context "The Disease"
The main causes of the injustice are as follows. Social and economic isolation prompt inner city crime. Police are more likely to shoot and kill a black person than a white person. Racial disparities and the lack of diversity within the system are reasons some believe blacks are disproportionately incarcerated, policed and sentenced to death at higher rates than their white counterparts. To, black people, everything thats unfair has to do with race to us/them, but to white people they don't really think about racism if something is unfair to them. Most Americans see racism as a lingering problem in the States, and many, both black and white, say that they know people who are racist, however, many do not see themselves as racist
Becoming Atticus Finch
- Atticus would try talking to higher up people in the justice system to help put an end to the disproportionate incarceration of black men. He would get with people with similar ideals to protest the issue. We could educate Americans. We could try to teach children and young voters the negative effects of racism on peoples lives to hopefully put an end to the issue.
Works Cited
Anonymous. "5 Ways the Criminal Justice System Discriminates." Bangor Publishing Company. 20 aug. 2014 db - elibrary: n. pag. Web. 1 Dec. 2014. <http://elibrary.bigchalk.com>
Hampton, Chris, and Kien Lee. "Strategies and Activities for Reducing Racial Prejudice and Racism." Community Tool Box. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Dec. 2014.
Kocher, and Christopher. "Militarized Police Must End the Overuse of Force." Elibrary. Elibrary, 08 Sept. 2014. Web. 9 Dec. 2014.
The New York Times. "Blacks and Whites, Talking About Race." Elibrary. The New York Times, 03 Dec. 2014. Web. 30 Dec. 2014.
Shahid Abdul-Karim New Haven Register, Conn. "New Haven Legal Experts Share Concern about Inequality in Connecticut Justice System." McClatchy - Tribune Information Services. 30 aug. 2014 db - elibrary: n. pag. Web. 1 Dec. 2014. <http://elibrary.bigchalk.com>.
TEDTalks: Bryan Stevenson--We Need to Talk About an Injustice. TED, 2012.