Media Spotlight

[DavidLeon]

The recent riots and protests around the country has sparked a considerable degree of debate concerning racism. That's a good thing. It's a problem that we need to address. While we do that I think it's important to realize the very real concern of the media's misrepresentation of the facts. Black people are disproportionately represented as both a criminal element and a victim of police brutality. This is a problem but rather than getting overly excited about it we need to carefully consider what is going on. And a big part of that is that the media attention is extremely misleading.

The fact is that you are more likely to be killed by police in America if you are white. That in no way means that the killing of black men by police isn't a problem. The killing of people in America by police is a problem we seriously need to stop. Getting emotional about it isn't going to solve the problem but is more likely to misguide us away from a practical and much needed solution.

Of 400,000 non-homicide violent black / white crimes, 85% are black perpetrators. Blacks kill more blacks (7000 in 2019) in a year than the KKK did in it's entire history. A young black man is seven times more likely to be murdered than a young white men, almost always by another young black man. Blacks kill two times as many whites (500) as whites kill blacks (250). Blacks, 13% of the population, commit 50% of the murders. Of the 50% of black homicides, they are mostly committed by young black men. This means roughly 3% of the population is responsible for 50% of the nation's homicides. In Chicago, murder capital of the country, 1/3 black; 1/3 white; 1/3 Hispanic; blacks account for 70% of the homicides. * (See video below; source isn't given)

The Distorting Role of Mass News Media Coverage of Urban Violence

As Surette (1998) suggests, what most Americans know about crime and justice comes from popular media’s portrayal of these subjects. Unfortunately, media outlets have an interest in presenting crime and justice issues in a way that captivates audiences and stimulates passions. Even though crime has steadily decreased over the last two decades, personal safety remains high on the list of public concerns, in part, because citizen perceptions are influenced by news media sources intentionally designed to make us feel passionately about the subject (Surette, 1998; Crayton and Glickman, 2007). (Source)

Here are some statistics:

In 2008, the homicide victimization rate for blacks (19.6 homicides per 100,000) was 6 times higher than the rate for whites (3.3 homicides per 100,000).

The victimization rate for blacks peaked in the early 1990s, reaching a high of 39.4 homicides per 100,000 in 1991.

After 1991, the victimization rate for blacks fell until 1999, when it stabilized near 20 homicides per 100,000.

In 2008, the offending rate for blacks (24.7 offenders per 100,000) was 7 times higher than the rate for whites (3.4 offenders per 100,000).

The offending rate for blacks showed a similar pattern to the victimization rate, peaking in the early 1990s at a high of 51.1 offenders per 100,000 in 1991.

After 1991, the offending rate for blacks declined until it reached 24 per 100,000 in 2004. The rate has since fluctuated, increasing to 28.4 offenders per 100,000 in 2006 before falling again to 24.7 offenders per 100,000 in 2008.
(Source: See p. 11)

Some videos:

* (video referenced above)


Study: Is There Evidence Of Racial Disparity In Police Use Of Deadly Force? (See video below)

[koko]

DavidLeon,


After the depression in the USA the media reported on government assistance by presenting poor, white, farmers and rural people in a sympathetic light. So people felt that government assistance was a good thing, helping hard working folks who were down on their luck. Just 30 years later, in the 1960's the media changed their presentation to that of black inner city people receiving government assistance and the public perception changed to an unfavorable one. Now it was perceived as a bad thing, supporting lazy black people in crime infested slums who just didn't want to work. So they started making cuts. The reality was that this hurt more white people than black and it either reflected or encouraged seeing black people as less than human. Not like us white folk.

A very good point. When it's welfare for whites (especially farm belt whites) it's perfectly acceptable to society. When it's welfare for urban blacks it is viewed by many on the political right wing as a crime against humanity. But that is only part of the problem in that corporations and other wealthy elites (most of whom are white) have trillions of dollars worth of tax sheltered resources overseas. Trillions in capital which go untaxed. When a corporation reports a loss of profits (what we in the accounting business call a "paper loss") the government gives them billions in subsidies - subsidies that are financed by you the taxpayer. Needless subsidies since they have trillions in resources overseas. Again, where is the complaint from the political right wing?

This racist double standard has been mentioned innumerable times over the years. But right wingers remain complicit in it. When such hypocrisy is pointed to them they immediately engage in personal attacks and name calling by saying you are a socialist or commie. This even though all you are doing is reporting the truth. A truth they refuse to confront. Contrary to the delusional beliefs of the right wing, a poor unwed black woman with 2 underfed children at home, or a senior handicapped Latino taking a monthly SNAP benefit allotment isn't the problem. Instead, it is the corporation sheltering billions overseas while pleading poverty and getting billions more in yearly subsidies, that is the real problem. Right wingers know it. But they lack the honesty and integrity to admit it.

[Zzyzx]

The other point is that if the police are so corrupt the judges would have to be corrupt in allowing it and the politicians would have to be corrupt in allowing that and this in turn indicates a serious problem with the citizens as well.

Agree. There is a lot of corruption in the system.

Why elect corrupt leaders? Because that's the only option?

Money controls who is nominated and who is elected. Money favors corruption (when in their favor).

Why tolerate that, especially when it's causing so much trouble?

The US has always been governed by the 'elite'.

I guess if it doesn't effect them it doesn't matter.

Human nature seems to focus on the self (and immediate associates). Altruism seems rather rare.

So they think black people commit all of the crime so black people do all the time or are more likely to be gunned down by police.

Divisiveness of the masses is good politics for the 'elite' – racism pits the poor against the poorer. As long as there is someone to blame – to be made into villains (at various times Chinese, Japanese, Irish, Polish, Germans, Native Americans). Skin color and facial features are easy targets for hate.

As long as the masses can feel superior to SOMEONE, anyone, they will be less likely to notice that the wealthy are picking their pocket big time.

Inequality of opportunity, income, wealth, education, and influence accounts for much of the unrest or feeling of hopelessness that is evident in current affairs.