PRENTISS SMITH CONTRIBUTING COLUMNIST
Law enforcement has a problem , and that problem is that they are fearful of young black men . Some officers see these young men as objects and not as human beings. Over the years there have been studies of how police officers interact with and engage young , black men and how they interact and engage with young, white men . The difference is like day and night.
Recent studies in criminal behavior show that when young, black men come in contact with law enforcement, there is a default position by law enforcement that automatically concludes that the young, black men are inclined to commit a criminal act, which studies have found to be untrue. On the other hand , the default position when law enforcement encounters young, white men who engage in the same activity as young, black men, those same studies show that law enforcement is more often than not to give the young, white men the benefit of the doubt.
This is called "implicit bias." We all have our implicit biases, which are based on a number of factors that are perceived to be real , but turn out to be stereotypical and wrong most of the time, as evidenced by the disproportionate number of black men killed by law enforcement. That bias soon becomes explicit and manifests itself in the types of interactions seen between law enforcement and young, black men.
The notion that young , black men and young, white men are different in exhibiting bad behavior has been studied and proven to be wrong. The simple fact is that boys will be boys, regardless of the color their skin . What is also clear is that the cultural and socioeconomic differences contribute to behavior patterns in all human beings, regardless of race or ethnicity.
Unfortunately and sadly, a lot of the reasons for some of the tension between law enforcement and black men is the proliferation of black-on-black crime in many of the inner-city neighborhoods that are patrolled by law enforcement. Black-on-black crime is a problem that has only grown worse over the years. The availability of guns in these neighborhoods and the inability for these individuals to deescalate a dispute, have made these neighborhoods dangerous for the inhabitants and for law enforcement. The recent shooting of a 1 0-month-old baby is an example of the out-of-control gun violence that is in these neighborhoods. This is not an excuse for bad behavior by police officers, but it is understandable that these officers are on edge. It is only human. They are aware of the dangers that exist.
The reality is that more black people are killed by someone who looks like them than will ever be killed by a white policeman; and yet, there is no moral outrage or marches in the streets in the black community. A life is a life, whether is extinguished by a policeman or some hoodlum in the neighborhood. The value of each life should demand the same response from those who are so quick to become indignant after a racial incident with police.
Ninety percent of all killings in the black community are committed by other blacks. It is a startling statistic and something that psychologists, sociologists and psychiatrists struggle to figure out every day. It is a display of self-hate and unchecked impulsivity that cannot be explained or quantified.
Yes, it is wrong when any policeman is perceived to have wrongly killed any citizen, but it becomes more amplified when race is at the center of the situation. It should not be that way, but it is. One of the great things about America is the right to question authority, especially when there is a belief that that authority is being abused. Americans reserve the right to criticize bad behavior, even when it comes from law enforcement.
Critiquing or criticizing unfair law enforcement practices does not mean that one is against law enforcement. It does mean that law enforcement is not always squeaky clean , and there have been hundreds of cases where the thin, blue line has impeded the truth and stifled legitimate inquiry into criminal acts committed by law enforcement officers.
One of the main problems with law enforcement in general and beat cops in particular is that they forget who they work for. They forget that they are sworn to serve and protect all Americans, regardless of what color their skin is or what neighborhood they live in . Unfortunately, that is not often the case. The racial tension between law enforcement and black men has to be addressed. Past actions by law enforcement have made many black men wary of them. That is just a natural reaction for a black man growing up and living in America. It shouldn't be that way, but it is.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the risk of someone black being killed by law enforcement remains much higher than that of whites, Latinos and Asians. A recent study of law enforcement shootings in one metropolitan area found that out of 45 officer-involved shootings in the city between 2004 and 2009, 37 of those shot were black. None were white. One third of the shootings resulted in deaths. Although weapons were not found in 40 percent of the cases, no officers were ever charged. No police officers were ever convicted or sentenced. This is why there is racial tension between lawenforcement and the black community. That racial tension is going to have to be addressed openly and honestly.
Since January of 2015, there have been 1 ,502 people shot and killed by police officers. Of them, 732 were white, 381 were black and 382 were of another or unknown race. That is a lot of Americans dying at the hands of law enforcement. Yes, law enforcement deserves support and respect, but so do the citizens who they work for and are sworn to serve and protect, regardless of color. And that's the way I see it. smithpren@aol.com
THIS ARTICLE WAS PUBLISHED IN THE June 5 ISSUE OF FOCUS SB - THE INQUISITOR.