SOC131AC Race and Ethnic Relations in the U.S.

Introduction

Race is interlinked to crime, as from victimization to overrepresentation in the criminal justice system race plays a huge role. The research has shown that in USA, black people are more likely to be a victim of crime as well as they have more chances of getting arrested and prisoned for a crime as compared to white people. The race plays a critical role both in victimization of people along with their criminal behavior. The most victimized people in terms of injuries and hate crimes in USA has been the black people and also their sentencing along with punishment is harsher as compared to white people which shows the connection between race and crime. This portfolio will present ten artifacts that are related to race and crime.

The first three artifacts will be cartoons that will show the relationship between race and crime. Cartoons are a great way of showing the problems in a society as they take a complex topic and present with ease while at the same time capturing the interest of the viewers. The next three artifacts will be newspaper articles and op-ed pieces, as these are valuable source of information and allow in gathering different perspectives on topics such as race and crime. The next three artifacts will include a book review, a movie review and a tweet that also shed different lights on the topic. The final artifact will be a personal reflection on the topic which will allow in presenting the understanding of the topic as well as personal views about the topic.

Artifact 1

Source 1 (Eijk, 2014)

Summary 

This cartoon depicts how there is a difference in treatment of people based on their race in the criminal justice system. The cartoon shows that white people are treated differently than black people in same crime of possessing cocaine. A white man is in prison as he was in possession of 500g of cocaine whereas black people are in prison as they were in possession of 5g cocaine. The disparity among white and black people for time in prison is 100 to 1, which means that for every 100 black men are being arrested only one white man is being arrested. The cartoon also shows judge saying that some people are more equal than other referring to favour to white man and disadvantage to black people.

Analysis 

This cartoon showcases the relationship between race and crime in the society. The years of slavery and racist practices have made discrimination against black people embedded in the social institutions of the country. The black people are more vulnerable to getting a harsher treatment for a crime in comparison to white people for a number of issues such as lack of knowledge and not being able to get quality legal help and also because of the innate discrimination in the system which oppresses black people. This has resulted in overrepresentation of black people in the criminal justice system and also leads them to suffer harsher punishments as shown in this cartoon.

Artifact 2

Source  2 (Cunningham, 2017)

Summary 

This cartoon depicts a black person visiting a doctor, where he sits without his clothes and has a target sign on his stomach and he is asking the doctor to remove the target sign to which he refers as birthmark.

Analysis 

The color of the skin has been a basis of treatment of the people in USA, since the advent of Europeans in the Americas. The white color Europeans were considered as superior to native people as well as the black people who were brought from Africa as slaves to work in plantations owned by white people. Despite the change in laws and abolishing of slavery along with passing of civil rights act, the equality is still not established in society. The repercussions of past are still faced by black people as they still have to face discrimination both by the system and the general people. In terms of common people, the black people are targeted as they are linked to being dangerous and because of cultural stereotypes which present them in bad light. They are target in terms of violent attacks, and people calling police on them for reasons such as being in same neighborhood as white people or any basis of suspicion that is rooted in racism. In terms of system black people are target of racial profiling and also in the terms of their checking and searching by police and even in terms of brutal attacks.   

Artifact 3

Source 3 (Sthaler, 2020)

Summary 

This cartoon presents protesters carrying a bill board of Black Lives Matter Movement and one person is shown saying that base still remains to other person while overlooking a big base of a structure that existed and is labeled as racism. The base which is termed as racism shows that there were other structures that existed above this base before but they do not exist anymore.

Analysis 

This cartoon shows that even though society has been able to get rid of bigger problems such as slavery and segregation in the society, the base of these bigger problems still exists in society and is as strong as ever. The connection between race and crime is this base which is racism. The people from Africa who were brought to USA were made to work as slave and were traded as a commodity not because they were prisoners of war or were bad people it was done just because of the color of their skin. The segregation in the society was also because of color of the skin of people and the notion that skin of color is important and even more that white color is better than other colors. Therefore in order to get rid of problems such as killing of black people by police, or racial profiling or targeting of black people, the society would have to ensure that the base of all these problems which is racism is eradicated and without this the problem will not be solved.

Artifact 4

Source 4 (Thompson, 2020)

Summary 

`This op-ed presents the history of problems faced by black people in country. From the start of slavery to civil war and depriving of black people because of the color of their skin and the problems faced by black people due to their discrimination. This op-ed presented that the problems faced by black people have not reduced in the present time as there has not been a complete eradication of racism from the society and it results in problems such as police brutality like in case of George Floyd along with other problems as well.

Analysis 

The present connection that exists in the society results from the institutionalization of racism in society. The changes are difficult to bring in the society. This can be explained with the help of the changes that were proclaimed were after the civil war were rolled back and put the black people again at a disadvantage. The same thing happened after the first time black people were given the right to vote and the people did not accept the changes and it was in 1965 the civil right acts were passed properly. However same as before the changes have not taken place completely as people are still discriminated because of their race and it leads to problem for them such as a target of police brutality and overrepresentation in the criminal justice system.

Are you in dire need of assignment help in the UK? Can’t figure out who can help you whenever you find yourself thinking, “Wouldn’t it be great if I could pay someone to do my assignment?” With Myassignmenthelp.co.uk, you can fulfil your desires without any hassle.

Send us your requirements, and our paper writers will take care of your assignment worries quickly. So now, you don't have to worry about, "Where can I find someone to do my assignment for me in the UK?” Instead, let our experts provide you with the best assignment help in London, Bristol, Manchester, Liverpool and more!