One group did a study on the number of black males in the prison system and compared it to the number of black males in universities. There were astounding numbers that stated that 200,000 men were incarcerated and well over 80,000 of them are black. the group then went on to explain that racial profiling, negligence and impoverished conditions were what led to most of these imprisonments. Racial profiling has always been a problem and one of the most recent EXTREME acts of racial profiling was the Rodney King story. However, I don't think that poverty should play a role because growing up, a boy doesn't have control over his surroundings but he can try to make his situation better. Turning down the alley of selling drugs and stealing isn't something that should be necessary for a black man who wants to change his life. I feel as though hard work and perseverance will help and not always wanting a "break".
It is evident that negligence plays a role because several of these men did not grow up with father figures and more than likely had mothers who worked hard just to make ends meet. Most times, there is a false sense of belonging as well as brotherhood when young boys aspire to be like the men in the streets who sell drugs and participate in illegal activity. In order to change this, there has to be more programs in which young, African American males can go and learn how NOT to be a part of the statistic.
No comments:
Post a Comment