Thursday, June 26, 2008
The Rodney King beating and the history with racism
The Rodney King beating is a video that has been seen worldwide. Rodney King was repeatedly shot with stun guns, kicked, and beaten with batons causing broken ribs, a broken ankle, skull fracture and possible brain damage. The Rodney King beating was shocking proof that police brutality and racism are issues that still exist today and cannot be ignored any longer. Which is why when the officers were acquitted of the charges it lead the 1992 L.A. riots (one of the biggest riots known in the US). Even during the riots the police used most of their efforts to protect the wealthy Anglo-Saxon communities, leaving the minorities (Korea Town) to fend for themselves. Minorities have had a constant problem with police harassment and brutality.
The police have been used as instruments by the government to enforce racism from the colonial era all the way up until today. The police were used to enforce slavery, Black codes, Jim Crow laws, and overall government enforced racism. Africans have had to fight and die for every liberty they’ve received such as freedom from slavery, voting, citizenship, equality, and as of lately equal employment.
“Although Blacks make up only about 10 percent of the US population they accounted for 51 percent of those killed by the police between 1960 to 1968.”(Platt et al., 1982) Also African Americans are highly over represented in prison populations. About one third of young African American males are under some type of police supervision. Although racism is not as blatant as it was 40 to 50 years ago it still exists. Often times the police may stop someone simply because he is black and looks “suspicious” or “matches the profile.” Other types of racisms are policies and laws made that show harsher punishments towards minorities but leniency towards the elite (such as the leniency on white collar crimes).
http://archives.cnn.com/2001/LAW/03/02/beating.anniversity.king.02/
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2 comments:
It is true that there have been a lot of police officers who misuse their power. But, the statement "The police have been used as instruments by the government to enforce racism..." is not entirely true. Yes, officers who had to enforce the Jim Crow laws and Black Codes were acting in a racist manner. But, officers also have their own discretion. Not all racism stems from policy or state legistlature.
True, officers do have their own discretion and I think that there have been steps made to improve relationships between the government and minorities. Today police brutality may not be a accurate reflection of the department as a whole but a result of a few "rotten apples."
However back then and even today there are policies made that target minorities. Back then it was more apparent but racism still exists in the government today but it's more hidden and officials use more discretion not to show their true colors. Although not ALL racism stems from policy or state legislature I think it definetley plays a significant role. The government plays an important part in helping society define what is moral, normal, and socially acceptable.
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