Minority Persecution

Words: 803
Pages: 4

Another indication of minority suppression is the disproportionate distribution of race in the prison system. Blacks make up only 13% of the US population, yet they make up 40% of the prison population. Minor drug charges are given mandatory minimums and the judge has no real say based on the circumstances of the trial itself. Drugs are, in my opinion, either the rich trying to play or the poor trying to escape. Due to the economic disadvantage that African-Americans are generally given, the quick dollar is appealing for the families that are simply scraping by. However, a single drug conviction causes that person to suddenly be unable to get a job, vote, or be a member of the free world. Previously mentioned affluenza teen, Ethan Couch, was …show more content…
My best friend of 12 years is a frequent marijuana user. He was smoking with some friends in an abandoned lot when police showed up and he ran from the scene. The police caught him and put him in handcuffs. However, instead of arresting him immediately, the officer instead talked with him and upon learning that he attends UTRGV and aspiring to go to medical school, the officer released him. The officer showed grace and told him not to screw up his future. I am extremely thankful that this happened, but I believe that if he was of Hispanic or African descent, the police wouldn’t have given him the chance to explain. The Rio Grande Valley area is a prime drug trafficking area, so the officer assumed because he was not Hispanic or Black, he had aspirations. This assumption is a clear demonstration of racial prejudice in the law enforcement and judicial system. A politically active population could help to change these implicit biases. Currently politicians who are controlled by the wealthy don’t care about the imprisoned, simply because they don’t have much direct connection to the prisoners. People who see these injustices must be politically active for a democracy to be …show more content…
For example, in 2011 NBC’s parent company General Electric had a tax scandal, where they paid no federal corporate income tax despite earning billions. NBC News did not cover this story to preserve the parent company and prevent character defamation. A population that is only informed on what they want is not truly informed. Once again, financial greed prevents democracy from performing in its entirety. Democracy based on the needs of the extraordinarily rich does not represent the best interest for the people. The people need an unbiased view of issues that concern them to create a functioning