The "Black Criminal:" The Moral Panic Created by the Media

There is a growing myth that equates Black people (especially males) with criminal activity.  Again this is a myth which is often perpetuated by the media.  For instance, Fox News’ commentator Bill O’Reilly, conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh, and even some Black “leaders” often discuss Black people in such a way where it implies that they are engaging in significant amounts of crime.  This myth or moral panic is further exacerbated by terms such as “Black-on-Black” crime, where it implies that Blacks are simply killing and robbing one another.

Let’s examine the “truth” of these issues.  In terms of crime, there are multiple ways one can look at it.  To begin, one can look at arrests.  As mentioned above, if one believes the media portrayal, it would lead you to believe Blacks were involved in so much crime.  According to the FBI (which collects data on all crime reported to law enforcement agencies in the United States), in 2011, Blacks made up 38% of the arrests for violent crime, while Whites made up 59% of the violent crime arrests.  While there are many problems with how the FBI measures race, the point is that it is clear that Blacks are not arrested for a majority of violent crimes.  In fact, of ALL crimes in the United States, Blacks make up majority of the arrests for only three offenses: homicide (49.7% Black; 48% White), robbery (55.6% Black; 43% White), and gambling (66.9% Black; 29.8% White).  As can be seen, the homicide arrest percentages are almost equivalent.  In all other offenses (other than these three), violent and nonviolent, Whites are arrested at a greater percentage of Blacks.  The question, then, is on what foundation are these claims of the Black criminal being advanced?

If you examine incarceration rates, Blacks make up 38% of those in state/federal prison (34% White) and there are slightly more Blacks in county jails than Whites.  Incarceration is not a good indication of crime because not all criminals are actually incarcerated; they can be sentenced to probation.  In other words, when commentators are looking at the amount of crime committed, they appear (maybe!) to be examining arrests.  I have provided a link at the bottom of this post to the FBI website, where you can see the racial breakdown of the arrests.

I make the argument that agendas are being advanced in the current media environment.  The main agenda is to create a moral panic of Blacks, where it is portraying this group as crime prone and dangerous.  “Black-on-Black” crime is a ridiculous term.  Bill O’Reilly mentioned that 91% Black homicide victims were killed by Black offenders in 2011.  This does imply a “Black-on-Black” crime issue.  However, he failed to mention that 83% of White victims were killed by White offenders….and we don’t go around talking about “White-on-White” crime.  Again, the former term is used as a way to enhance the negative views of Blacks.  Simply speaking, crime is committed in neighborhoods in which people reside….meaning Blacks are more likely to victimize Blacks and Whites are more likely to victimize Whites.  There is nothing more to this Black-on-Black crime phenomenon.

Bluntly speaking, the facts do not support any of these claims.  While Blacks do make a up a disproportionate percentage of arrests (percentage of arrests is greater than Blacks’ percentage of the U.S. population), the fact is that Blacks do NOT make up a larger percentage of arrests for almost all categories of criminal offenses.  Although we cannot stop people from making up lies or giving partial “truths,” we have to educate ourselves with knowledge.

Now that we know the truth about the facts, the question is that why does the media continue to portray Blacks in this way…..why create this false moral panic?  Why make it seem as though Blacks engage in a majority of crime when it is a blatant lie?

Bill O’Reilly’s segment on “Black-on-Black” crime and violent crime in the media

Uniform Crime Reports (FBI) for 2011, showing the racial breakdown of arrests

Bureau of Justice Statistics (race and state/federal prison incarcerated population)

Bureau of Justice Statistics (race and jail population)

FBI (Race of victims/Race of offenders for homicides)

Trayvon Martin-Jordan Davis: What Does it Say about Black Males?

What do Trayvon Martin and Jordan Davis have in common?  Both were young Black males who were fatally shot.  Although George Zimmerman was found not guilty by a jury of his “peers,” it is clear that the encounter occurred because of Zimmerman’s racial profiling.  As for Jordan Davis, he was shot and killed by Michael Dunn because Dunn felt “threatened” that the Black males in the car were going to kill him.  How many more times must unarmed young Black males die because of a perceived threat by someone with a gun?  Obviously, this is only two cases of many in the state (and nation for that matter), but it does provide a foundation for a discussion.

We live in a society that fears young Black males, and it is causing this group to have unnatural consequences.  For instance, Trayvon and Jordan both had untimely ends, leaving behind grieving parents, family, and friends.  Other Blacks recognize the negative view of them and must often speak, talk, walk, and dress in “code,” in order appear less “threatening” by others.  Where is the action?  Where is the anger?

People of all races and ethnicities rallied around the Trayvon Martin case.  In fact, Trayvon’s killing and all the case’s circumstances resulted in a movement to address racial profiling and injustice within the criminal justice system.  The not guilty verdict fueled the efforts of protestors and further motivated their calls to action.  Will the same happen for Jordan Davis?

Although Dunn is awaiting trial for Jordan’s killing, the underlying issue that led to the deaths of these two males have not been addressed by any legislator, executive, or criminal judge.  Again, Trayvon and Jordan died because they were viewed as threatening and dangerous.  Black males are systematically punished more harshly than Whites, even after ruling out offense seriousness and prior criminal record.  Therefore, this group appears to be viewed more threatening and dangerous when sentenced by criminal judges. As mentioned earlier, Black often “change” certain parts of themselves at work, in order to avoid being viewed as threatening and dangerous.  Do you see a theme?

Although it is very difficult to change people’s attitudes, the focus must remain on laws and policies that systematically attribute negative characteristics to Blacks.  Although the news and other media have almost stopped covering the movements that spurred from the Trayvon Martin shooting and subsequent verdict in Florida’s criminal court, the movement must continue and people must be steadfast.  As long as people, of all races, remain quiet, passive, and inconsistent in the movement, Blacks will continue being viewed as the criminal, dangerous, lazy, and threatening group.  Some may say, “Who cares how Blacks are viewed?”  Even some Blacks may have this view.  A response can be summed up by saying…. “Trayvon Martin,” “Jordan Davis,” “lack of resources,” “lack of jobs,” and “more punitive criminal punishments than other racial/ethnic groups.”  I care….do you?