[mccoyred]

Folks, I just love this discussion. Deep thinking is always good reading and conversation. I do want to give some additional info/clarification on a few issues though.


-Many, if not most, forms where race/ethnicity is requested state "white/caucasian/or european not of Hispanic origin" and "black/african-american not of Hispanic origin" so there is not a distinction.

-Blacks comprise the majority of the prison population due to several factors:

1) the law enforcement community tends to scrutinize Blacks moreso than whites for the same activity (ie racial profiling)

2) if the case is prosecuted, Blacks tend to have higher conviction rates

3) if convicted, Blacks recieve harsher sentences (ie probation vs 1 jailtime or death penalty vs life or lesser prison time

4) Blacks are convicted for more violent (rape, robbery, murder) vs nonviolent (embezzelment, fraud, tax evasion) offenses which often carry mandatory jail time

5) unequal sentencing laws (see crack vs cocaine issue)


-As far as individuals making poor choices, this is where role models play a major role (pun intended) in how we act and think. We as American Blacks were not always at the bottom of the barrel, our situation has worsened since the sixties. Many of our role models have sold out (literally or figuratively) and the community as a whole has suffered.

I could say more but I have to go now.