Killing Fields: Explaining Police Violence Against Persons of Color

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Summary
Analysis
Conclusion
Works Cited

Introduction

Equality and its establishment in society is the main area of concern at the moment. In particular, this topic concerns the biased attitude towards people of color among representatives of the protection of law and order. This research will address the problem of discrimination among police officers based on the article James M. Jones titled “Killing Fields: Explaining Police Violence Against Persons of Color.” Thus, this research will address the problem of discrimination among police officers based on the article James M. Jones titled “Killing Fields: Explaining Police Violence Against Persons of Color.”

Thesis

Police violence against people of color has a historical context. This behavior has a sociological explanation that allows to better understand the causes and consequences of police violence. The consequences have a significant impact on the victims and communities of color. Moreover, American and European police force have similar patterns of behavior with significant differences.

Summary

The author raises the problem of discrimination and the biased attitude of law enforcement officials regarding black people. First of all, it is noted that this area of concern has deep roots in American society and remains an urgent issue to this day. The author claims that “whether it is a desire and need for control of colored minds, maintaining an illegitimate system of expression, or maintaining a cultural self-image of superiority, it has been woven into the society” (Jones 872).

Critique

“Killing Fields: Explaining Police Violence Against Persons of Color” by James M. Jones is an impactful piece of evidence that can help spread awareness about the problem of intolerance and inequality among police officers. Concerning the formal critique of the reasoning, there is no formal mistake in logic of the author’s argument. Regarding criticism, and it is also worth noting that the study is based on a large number of scientific papers of a valuable importance, which gives it credibility and relevance.

Analysis

Article Jones is a valuable scientific work that contributes to the conversation about the problem of discrimination against people of color. This is because it provides a large amount of statistical data about the individuals who have experienced violence by police. Thus, the article emphasizes that “among the 94 fatal shootings of unarmed persons, 40 percent were Black men—seven times the rate for White men” (Jones 873). Data shows a disappointing trend regarding the topic being raised and requires public attention to provide justice and equality for all races and nationalities.

There is the predisposition of police officers to show violence against blacks, even in the absence of indisputable evidence (Carbado 125; Jones 873). Therefore, “police are more likely to shoot a Black suspect than a White suspect even in the absence of racial differences in criminal activity” (Jones 875). Another phenomenon is The Hoodie Effect, which implies what an object is like a hood on a person of color. Among other similar behaviors is shooting black police officers if they were off duty, and justification of violent actions by self-defense.

The influence of mass media also has a particularly detrimental effect. It affects the formation of the negative behavior of people toward representatives of the black community (Ross 12). Another characteristic feature of the behavior of media sources is the dehumanization of the black population and equating them with apes, which in Jones’ article was called The Gorilla Effect (Jones 877). Thus, this phenomenon implies the detachment of people of color from the concept of being a humans.

Arguments Against the Original Thesis

It is quite difficult to find arguments that would refute the theses presented in Jones’ work. However, it is possible to refute the thesis about the difference between the European and American systems. Thus, despite the fact that armed violence spreads especially in the United States, police officers in other countries also have access to it. Thus, it is impossible to deny the risk of a representative of the law killing a representative of a racial minority in Europe. In addition, research stated that “In 2018, the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) showed that only 14% of racist harassment incidents were reported, 37% denounced when suffered police abuse” (Rios para. 5).

Conclusion

In conclusion, this work was devoted to the study of the topic of racism, discrimination, and prejudice of law enforcement officials against representatives of racial minorities. The basis for this research was the article by James M. Jones named “Killing Fields: Explaining Police Violence Against Persons of Color.” Therefore, it was determined that there are specific behavioral patterns that affect the increase in bias among police officers. Thus, the article Jones is valuable for drawing attention to the conversation about the importance of equality and tolerance in all spheres of society.

Works Cited

Anderson, Elizabeth. The Imperative of Integration. Princeton University Press, 2013. “Arrests by Offense, Age, and Race.” U.S. Department of Justice. Web.

Carbado, Devon W. “From Stopping Black People to Killing Black People: The Fourth Amendment Pathways to Police Violence.” California Law Review, vol. 105, 2017, p. 125.

Jones, James M. “Killing Fields: Explaining Police Violence Against Persons of Color.” Journal of Social Issues, vol. 73, no. 4, 2017, pp. 872-883.

Rios, Beatriz. “Beyond the US: Police Brutality, Structural Racism are a Problem in Europe too.” Euractiv, 2022. Web.

Ross, Anna M., et al. “A Systematic Review of the Impact of Media Reports of Severe Mental Illness on Stigma and Discrimination, and Interventions that Aim to Mitigate any Adverse Impact.” Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, vol. 54, no. 1, 2019, pp. 11-31.

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