I Got Myself Arrested So I Could Look Inside the Justice System

[decocker 7,198]

I do not relate these experiences to gain sympathy. I broke the law knowing there would be consequences. I tell my story because this is the side of the system we didn’t get to see where I grew up. In the wealthy suburbs of Massachusetts, our shared narrative told us that people who didn’t live where we lived, or have what we had, weren’t working as hard as we were. We avoided inner city streets because they were dangerous, and we relied on the police to keep people from those places out of our neighborhoods. Whatever they got, we figured they deserved. My total, unquestioning belief in this narrative was the reason I arrived in Roxbury, fresh out of law school, eager to incarcerate everything in sight.

After I was sentenced, I went across the street to scan my hand into a biometrics database. As I walked down the steps of the courthouse, I noticed that there were some words carved into the façade of the building. It was a quote from Thomas Jefferson, describing one of the “essential principles” of American democracy: “Equal and exact justice to all men, of whatever state or persuasion.”

worth a full read..

http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2013/12/i-got-myself-arrested-so-i-could-look-inside-the-justice-system/282360/

[mota bhai 2,675]

... as a white professional, the police have never eyed me suspiciously or stopped me for routine questioning. I would have to do something creative to get their attention.

THAT right there is white privilege. Me, I don't have to get creative, I just have to get out of work clothes...

[decocker 7,198]

telling that the cops ran after the black dude yelling when a white guy was breaking the law right in front of them..

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

telling that the cops ran after the black dude yelling when a white guy was breaking the law right in front of them..

Good that we ended racism in America, isn't it?

[decocker 7,198]

Good that we ended racism in America, isn't it?

resuscitating racism is obama's main presidential goal. i mean, where would obama be today if not for reverse racism? duh, prison (where all community organizers belong, no matter their race).

[mota bhai 2,675]

obama is black

[decocker 7,198]

obama is black

half. exactly half.

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

half. exactly half.

Which half? I think it's the left half.

[decocker 7,198]

Which half? I think it's the left half.

only if he's right handed.

[Darnell 8,478]

'Sharing a narrative' is mostly for pansies.

But that's ok.

[GandD 5,966]

I read this and I'm not sure this really says anything. White guys in suits screwing around in Brownsville getting a pass could be considered white privileged or very confusing to cops. I'm sure these guys get used to certain norms in certain areas, right or wrong. The rest of it? He tried to make the system pay, someone took note and then took it to him. Had someone not made the note, he would have gotten 5 days community service. Someone heard about the reporter most likely. As for the profiling stuff, sure there's some racism. BUT what I think liberal idealists forget is that cops are often going by what they see every day. You're a cop in a neighborhood where there's thugs causing problems on the reg, you're going to develop stereotypes accordingly.

[Danno 1,228]

obama is black

Get real, I am blacker than Obama.

Poor guy had to fly to the main land to even see what a black neighborhood looked like.

[decocker 7,198]

Get real, I am blacker than Obama.

Poor guy had to fly to the main land to even see what a black neighborhood looked like.

gee, danno. what does a black neighborhood look like?

[decocker 7,198]

I read this and I'm not sure this really says anything. White guys in suits screwing around in Brownsville getting a pass could be considered white privileged or very confusing to cops. I'm sure these guys get used to certain norms in certain areas, right or wrong. The rest of it? He tried to make the system pay, someone took note and then took it to him. Had someone not made the note, he would have gotten 5 days community service. Someone heard about the reporter most likely. As for the profiling stuff, sure there's some racism. BUT what I think liberal idealists forget is that cops are often going by what they see every day. You're a cop in a neighborhood where there's thugs causing problems on the reg, you're going to develop stereotypes accordingly.

as a liberal idealist, i try not to forget what cops have to deal with. then i ask myself, why do people become and stay employed as cops? followed by why are so many black people in prison? i ususally come to the conclusion that any sort of support for a stereotypically biased justice system, leaves plenty blame with the enforcement of that system. i think this article says a lot, but primarily, it's certainly awesome to be white and have the option of playing the system instead of being born black into society where the justice system will certainly play you.

[Danno 1,228]

as a liberal idealist, i try not to forget what cops have to deal with. then i ask myself, why do people become and stay employed as cops? followed by why are so many black people in prison? i ususally come to the conclusion that any sort of support for a stereotypically biased justice system, leaves plenty blame with the enforcement of that system. i think this article says a lot, but primarily, it's certainly awesome to be white and have the option of playing the system instead of being born black into society where the justice system will certainly play you.

But why do you narrow your parameters to race so much?

The prison system is also 10 to 1 male and full of young people too.

Bias is bias.

It is 2014 (or almost)