Discrimination

Institutionalized discrimination is the social injustices that people from different backgrounds experience on the institutional level. 

Institutions dominate society in the United States. The main institution that people think of is the government, which is very complex. Historically, the government has been ruled by upper-class White males, which has reinforced a discriminatory cycle. Although times have evolved, and our legal system has ruled segregation unconstitutional, there are certainly racial disparities in the government, most evidently in prisons. The NAACP reported that there are 5 times as many African – Americans incarcerated than White Americans. Is this because they just blatantly commit more crimes than their counterparts, or is it because of centuries of institutionalized discrimination for why there is such a large disparity? 

The government is set up to protect citizens, and punish those who don’t abide by the law. Each state is different in how they view certain crimes and criminals, which blurs the lines of legality. For example, marijuana is legal in about 33 states, but in the criminalized states, Black people are about 4 times as likely to be arrested for petty marijuana crimes than other ethnicities, according to the NAACP. If it is legal and decriminalized in some states, as well as used as medication, then why is there still such a high rate of African – Americans incarcerated for these nonviolent offenses? 

Is it their individual choices that have landed them there, or the color of their skin? It’s sad to admit that it’s more likely the color of their skin than their individual actions because of the way society has viewed minority groups in the name of the law. From negative stereotypes to unlawful prejudice and discrimination, African-Americans have been historically oppressed based solely on their skin tone. It took centuries of activism for Black people to have equal rights, even though some might say no one is truly equal. On top of that, it took even longer for women to have rights. Imagine being a Black woman in America, having two oppressed identities that perpetuate these inequalities even more. Imagine being scared to leave one’s home based solely on the color of one’s skin and how one presents themselves. Imagine living in fear and that one could be unjustly murdered by a trusted government official. 

In the same manner, more shootings are conducted by White people than minority groups yet they are never labeled terrorists, according to Newsweek. No matter how many mass shootings are fulfilled by White men, society assumes they are flawed and need medical attention, rather than deeming them deviant in society, and giving them the proper label as a domestic terrorist. At the same time, if a Muslim or Black man were to commit such a heinous crime, the media would instantly categorize them as a terrorist or animal and never even think to consider their mental health state. 

It’s easy to discriminate outside of one’s own group, but does that make it just? Is it fair? Is it legal? The legality of institutionalized discrimination is not a topic in politics right now, as the political climate is more conservative. We as a society need to stand up, and fight for actual equality in our institutions. We need to protect the vulnerable populations, who fought for years through activism and are still afraid to walk out of their house because of the color of their skin. We need to put an end to this discriminatory cycle that has produced many statistics that politicians in the government ignore. Everyone deserves a voice and equal rights.This is not something that can be changed overnight.  But, like every great movement, we must take one step at a time.

Here at the Law Office of Mark Nicholson, we represent people that have been the victims of police brutality, racial profiling and those wrongly accused of crimes.  If you are in need of representation, please contact our office at 317-667-0718 so we can fight for you.

Author: Alison Shields.  Alison is one of our Summer 2019 Interns.

Alison Shields

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