I've actually been thinking about this, and have to ask a question:
If the crime rate for African American's was that of other races, do you believe that police brutality would also decrease?
In 2010, Charlotte was 67% white, 22% black.
The percentage of homicides was 48% committed by blacks, 27% whites.
Rapes were about equal.
Couldn't find other violent crimes.
Just this problem in a hypothetical vacuum:
1.) Officers are going to engage African American's more often due to the percentage of violent crimes committed.
2.) Let's face it, and the situation in Charlotte MAY be a case of this (that's a huge leap, I know), when you're an office, and the vast percentage of violent offenders are of one race, what is your reaction going to be when confronted with a potentially hostile situation with that race? Even the perception of a confrontation would be warped, creating a "hostile" situation of much less given the percentages.
If the crime rate is reduced, would police "brutality" follow suit?
Now we are getting somewhere! Only this as far as we ever go on the topic. Dig deeper ... why is the African American homicide rate larger? What are the human factors behind this statistic? Are there genetic deficiencies that cause violent tendencies? Some think so. I tend to believe that those people are unintelligent bigots who have convinced themselves that the first possible answer is the right answer. See David Duke.
Is it the "second class citizen" perception that always lingers around those who look different and the indifference that follows that sort of thinking. That could explain a lot ... why predominately black neighborhoods tend to have poorer schools, fewer opportunities, lower living conditions. Generations of indifference that carries such results would lead all of our families into despair. It would lead all of us to find alternative ways outside societal norms to make our way in the world. Unfortunately that leads to pursuits that fall outside the law ... even those that involve violence.
This problem is so much more complex than simply rounding people up and incarcerating them. Never mind the twisted policy of privatizing prisons and creating incentives to keep the pump churning. We have to take a hard look at the root causes, not just pat ourselves on the back for being "the law and order candidate" or the "tough on crime party." That BS has led to 2.2 million people behind bars and a bigger bill than just fixing the problems at the core. Our approach to this problem is flawed and only leads to perpetual problems moving forward.
I've always found that if you treat people right, give them a fair shake, provide pathways to self improvement and an environment conducive to self improvement, they are more likely trust and respect you or to to conform your rules. Treat people like crap and consign them to hopelessness, they will not trust you. They will not respect you. They are less likely to seek your approval or to conform to your standards.
And before anyone suggests that I am coddling criminals, know that I am for strict punishments for violent criminals. I just believe we'd have far fewer if we would have true equality in this country and weren't so quick to demonize any group, especially those who have never been on equal footing in our land of opportunity.
