References

Brunner, B. (2013, 10). African-american history timeline. Retrieved from http://citationmachine.net/index2.phpreqstyleid=2&mode=form&rsid=5&reqsrcid=APAWebPage&more=yes&nameCnt=1

Muhammad, J. (2012, 11 29). The jordan davis story: white man shoots and kills black student in florida after argument over loud music. Retrieved from http://beforeitsnews.com/african-american-news/2012/11/the-jordan-davis-story-white-man-shoots-and-kills-black-student-in-florida-after-argument-over-loud-music-2445024.html

Encyclopaedia, B. (2013, 12 23). Jim crow law. Retrieved from http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/303897/Jim-Crow-law

Is the system racially biased?. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/juvenile/bench/race.html
Kolhatkar, S. (2012, December 07). Florida Case of Murder Black Teen Jordan Davis, Has Echoes of Trayvon Martin. Retrieved from http://uprisingradio.org/home/2012/12/07/florida-case-of-murdered-black-teen-jordan-davis-has-echoes-of-trayvon-martin/ 

Website with no auther:

http://www.cnn.com/2012/05/18/justice/florida-teen-shooting-details/
  
http://library.thinkquest.org/J0112391/civil_rights_leaders.

http://www.infoplease.com/spot/bhmtimeline.html

News Story: The Trayvon Martin Story

Who:
 Trayvon Martin and George Zimmerman

What: 

1. 17year old Trayvon Martin was shot and killed by 28 year old George Zimmerman outside of a 7-Eleven store. 
2.  George Zimmerman was a volunteer watch-man for the town.
3. Evidence in a phone call recording shows that someone was yelling for "Help" but it isn't clear to FBI agents whether it was the voice of Trayvon or George.
4.  Witnesses clearly heard gunshots
5. Police found Trayvon  faced down in the grass with a bullet in his cheek. The fire department tried to relieve him however their efforts didn't save him. Trayvon died.
6. Evident of marijuana was found in Trayvon
7. Polices tracked Zimmerman down, and found him with blood wounds on his necks and head.
8. Zimmerman claimed that Trayvon attacked him and he shot the 17 year-old as self-defense.

When:
Wednesday, February 26, 2012

Where:

Sanford, Florida outside outside of a 7-Eleven Store

Thoughts and Reaction

Steven: I felt that the justice system was very Bias on this court case. Seeing that the court had all of the evidence against Zimmerman and he still was able to be proven innocent makes me upset. Also the fact that Trayvon was a young innocent African American male walking home and being shot with out even having a weapon on him is crazy.

 

Is the Justice system racially based

A number of recent survey have shown that there are profound racial disparities in the juvenile Justice system that, African American and Hispanic youth are more likely to be tried as adults.

Definition of Bias

Bias is prejudice in favor or against one thing, person or group compared with another, usually considered to be unfair

Bias of criminal justice system is usually against African Americans and other races of color

Posted by: Steven S.

Laws and History vs. The Result of Today

 Overview 


Throughout history leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, Ralph Abernathy, Nat Turner, Harriet Tubman, John F. Kennedy, Abraham Lincoln  and Malcolm X fought hardly to secure equal rights for African American in the Civil Rights Movement and the Montgomery Bus Boycott. The essential goal was to have peace, safety, and fair opportunities. Events such as the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the establishment of the Emancipation Proclamation  and the Brown v.Board of Education of Topeka Kans were just little foot steps to making America an truly equal country. Yet today we're still far from that reality, because the criminal justice system is obviously bias when it comes to fair sentence and judgement.

1. The Civil Rights Act (1964)- Was made to make it fair for blacks to work in any profession they so choose without being discriminated. However status proves that every 3 out of 10 African American Males with be in prison. 
• Males were mostly likely unemployed
• Had low income 
• Sold illegal drugs to make money
2. The Jim Crow Laws (1877-1954)- Were basically ruled that African American had to follow so that white individuals would feel more comfortable. The Jim Crow Laws segregated blacks from white. Sign the read Whites only and Negros only were everywhere. Those laws were made to keep blacks feeling inferior to the Whites. Moreover, today we still have these issues when police make traveling or visiting a publish place dangerous because of discrimination and assuming the worst out of blacks.

   

   Segregated Bathrooms for Whites and Blacks

   
   

   

   I think this image sends a very strong message saying that African Americans and Mexicans are equal to dogs. And had no authority what so ever in society.

   
   

   

   Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. witness the Civil Rights Act being signed. 

   
   

   

   More Segregation... 

   
   
   

   

   Civil Rights!
   

   Post Made By: Ashante I. Vaughn 

   
   

   
   

Political Cartoons

African Americans 18th Century vs. 21st Century 

WHAT IS JUSTICE?

The Working Class (low class/ghettos) 

WHATS AVAILABLE?

Bias in Court

Post Made By: Ashante I. Vaughn 

Arrest for Marijuana Possession

WHITE INDIVIDUALS SMOKE MORE MSRIJUANA THAN BLACKS HOWEVER BLACK INDIVIDUALS ARE GOING TO JAIL FOR IT.

IN THE YEAR 2010, MORE THAN 500 BLACKS IN WASHINTON STATE WERE ARRESTED BECAUSE OF MARIJUANA POSSESSION. YET LESS THAN 200 WHITES WERE ARRESTED FOR THE SAME CRIME. 

Post Made By: Ashante I. Vaughn

News Story: The Jordan Davis Story

Who:

Jordan Davis ( 17-yr old boy) & Michael Dunn ( 45-yr old gun collector and software engineer)

What: 

1. Michael Dunn shot and killed Jordan Davis outside of a convent store.

2. Both were in vehicles, Jordan Davia and several of his friends were present in the car.

3. However, it was reported that no weapons were in the car, nor at the scene. 

4. The Stand Your Ground Law was used in Michael's defense. 

Where: 

Jacksonville, Flordia at a convenience store.

When: 

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Thoughts and Reactions

To begin with, I believe that Michael Dunn could've handled the situation differently. He did not have to fire multiply gun shot at a truck full of teenagers. Yes, people react to violent sitautions without thinking all of the time and it's not acceptable. But who would think an adult with children of his own would shoot at a group of teenagers with or without thinking. The parent of Jordan Davis must have been furious and heart broken. No parents deserve to have to bury their child. I think that if someone takes another person's life there should be harsh punishments. And it's very unfair to me that Michael trail lasted as long as it did. He should have been put behind bars immediately. And I don't agree with the Stand Your Grounds Law. I understand that it was made to protect people in terms self defense yet we're unsure if defense was needed. Why would a group of kids want to kill an adult over a complaint about the volume there music was playing at? No matter what defenses and excuses Michael Dunn makes, at the end of the day he should have never taken another human being's life. Point blank!

Post Made By: Ashante I. Vaughn

Facts and Statistics on the Bias of criminal justice

1. African American individuals are imprisoned at six times the rate white individuals.

2. African Americans account for around 60% of the united state prison population.

3. There are plenty of stereotypes and misguided view points that surround African Americans

     Ex: African Americans are most likely to do drugs, commit crimes, and carry guns.

4. Interns of drug usage, white individuals and black individuals both use drugs around the rate.

5. Blacks are most likr to be arrested for drug possession.

6. More than half of the 3170 people on death row nationwide are people of color 42% are African Americans.

Post Made By: Ashante I. Vaughn/Steven Simmons 

About Deviance

Definitation: The violation of rules and norms.

Functionalist Perspective: Emile Durkhiem's theory (1893/1933, 1895/1964) Crime is functionanal part of society. And it contributes to the social  order.

• Deviance clarifies moral boundaries and affirms norms.
•  Deviance promotes social unity.
• Deviance promotes social change.

Post Made By: Ashante I. Vaughn