BLACKS, CRIME, AND AMERICAN CULTURE (FROM CRIME AND SOCIETY, 1979, BY ERIC OATMAN - SEE NCJ-63392)

• NCJ Number: 63395
• Author(s): J A DAVIS
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 10 pages
• Corporate Author: H W Wilson Co
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: FROM ANNALS OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF POLITICAL AND SOCIAL SCIENCE, V 423 (JANUARY 1976), P 89-98

Annotation

CRIME AMONG BLACKS IS INTERPRETED AS A REACTION TO OPPRESSION BY THE DOMINANT WHITE CULTURE.

Abstract

HISTORICALLY, BLACKS IN AMERICA HAVE BEEN DEHUMANIZED BY AN OPPRESSIVE SYSTEM THAT RULED THEM OUT OF MEANINGFUL PARTICIPATION IN DECISIONS AFFECTING THEIR LIVES AND THAT ASSAULTED THEIR NATIVE CULTURE. A PRINCIPAL RESULT WAS THE LOW SELF-ESTTEM AMONG BLACKS TENDING TOWARD SELF-HATRED. THIS IS MANIFESTED IN A HIGH RATE OF PREDATORY ACTS AGAINST PROPERTY, PRIMARILY WITH BLACKS THEMSELVES AS VICTIMS. THE CURRENT CRY AGAINST CRIME IN THE STREETS CONTINUES A LONG HISTORY OF OVERREACTION BY MEMBERS OF THE DOMINANT SOCIETY TO BLACK BEHAVIOR WHICH IS PERCEIVED AS BASICALLY CRIMINAL AND THREATENING TO WHITE PROPERTY INTERESTS. CRIMINOLOGISTS HAVE PLAYED A MAJOR ROLE IN PERPETUATING WHITE FEARS OF BLACKS BY PROMULGATING THEORIES WHICH VIEW THE BLACK COMMUNITY AS PROTOTYPICAL OF THE CRIMINAL ENVIRONMENT. THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, PARTICULARLY THE LAW ENFORCEMENT COMPONENT, REINFORCES THESE VIEWS BY GIVING PRIORITY TO CRIMES DISPROPORTIONATELY COMMITTED BY BLACKS. BLACKS HAVE SUFFERED NOT ONLY SUBSTANTIAL PROPERTY DEPRIVATION THROUGH OPPRESSIVE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC POLICIES, BUT HAVE BEEN DENIED STATUS WITHIN THE DOMINANT CULTURE. THIS PRODUCES REACTIONS OF AGGRESSION AND HOSTILITY AGAINST THE PROPERTY CRIMES VICTIMS. RACISM IS THUS THE VALUE SYSTEM THAT SPAWNS THE PREVALENCE AND PATTERNS OF CRIME IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY. (RCB)