Disparities Among Black Americans in Prison and Black Americans Killed by Police

According to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, whites make up 109, 003 (58.5%) of the prison population while blacks make up 70, 591 (37.9%) (Federal Bureau of Prisons, 2017). When looking at these numbers, our initial thought may be that whites represent a much larger number than blacks in prison. I have heard this argument before. “See there are more whites in prison than blacks. How is that unjust to blacks?"

I  affectionately refer to my wife as a data “nerd”. It is her hobby, her passion, her joy. She always says, “Data doesn’t lie, but it doesn’t tell the whole story”. What’s not being taken into consideration is disproportionality, which is the over representation of a population of people, usually in regards to societal issues such as: poverty, imprisonment, welfare, etc.

Whites do represent a larger number without considering disproportionality, however, without considering disproportionality, these numbers do not give an accurate account. According to the United States Census Bureau, whites represent 76.9% of the U.S. population and 58.5% of the prison population. Blacks only make up 13.3% of the U.S. population but represent 37.9% of the prison population (US Census Bureau, 2016).

Taking into account the U.S. population, blacks are represented 374% more in prison compared to whites. 1 in every 608 blacks are in prison. 1 in every 2,280 whites are in prison!

Below is a formula that you can use to figure out disproportionality and disparity (Berkley, 2017).

You could also divide the entire black population by the entire black prison population to see that for every 608 black people, there is 1 in prison. Whites would give you 1 in every 2,280! Divide 2,280 by 608 to figure the disparity. You will find that blacks over represent whites by 3.74 (374%)!!!

If you are upset about the kneeling during the anthem and your blood doesn’t boil over this, you need a heart check!

U.S. Population (323,127, 513)

Whites- 248,485, 057 (76.9%)

Blacks-    42, 975,959 (13.3%)

Prison Population (186,435)

White- 109, 003 (58.5%)

Black-    70, 591 (37.9%)

Let’s look at other societal issues such as police shootings. According to the Washington Post database, 963 people were killed by police in 2016. Of those killed by police, whites represent 466 (48%) and blacks represent 233 (24%). Again, let’s do the math.

U.S. Population (323,127, 513)

Whites- 248,485, 057 (76.9%)

Blacks- 42, 975,959 (13.3%)

Deaths by Police (963)

Whites- 466 (48%)

Blacks- 233 (24%)

Total disparity: 2.98 (298%)

1 in every 184,446 black person was killed by a police officer in 2016. 1 in every 533,230 white person was killed by a police officer in 2016.

Blacks represent nearly 3 times the amount of killings at the hand of police officers than whites.

My purpose is not to hate the white community in America or ignore other ethnic groups. My purpose is to bring clarity and data that shows blacks are more likely to go to prison and be shot by police than whites.

We will never reconcile racism if we won't call out the injustices that the black community faces. There is reason for the black community to be angry and afraid. Whites are the majority, and by this I mean, we have the power, authority, and privilege. As a majority, whites are responsible for ensuring justice for the minority.

We can take nearly ever societal problem in America and figure the disproportion of any given race represented. The point of this blog was to give you actual data to consider. We are so wrapped in our emotions that we don’t think. This was an exercise to help you think about the fear and concern in America’s black communities. They have valid reasons to be concerned. They have valid reasons to make their voice heard. We Christians need to take this information and pray to God. Ask him why are our hearts so hardened. We need to ask him to change us. You don’t see and you don’t understand, because you don’t ask. Ask him now.

*It should be noted that these percentages were rounded. It should also be noted that the the population data was from 2016 and the prison data is from 2017. This is not a concern for numbers. I would like to see what numbers were before President Obama released a unprecedented amount inmates, charged with non-violent crimes, from prison. Also, it should be noted that the disparity amongst Native Americans is much more disheartning. I did not intentionally ignore their plight. I'm simply taking current issues that whites and blacks face, which I believe results to much hatred and bigotry in this great nation.

References:

Federal Bureau of Prisons. Inmate Statistics, 2017.

https://www.bop.gov/about/statistics/statistics_inmate_race.jsp

University of California Berkeley. Methodology for Disproportionality and Disparity

Indices, 2017.

http://cssr.berkeley.edu/CWSCMSreports/dynamics/disprop/Disproportionality_Disparity_Methods.htm

U.S. Census Bureau. 2016 Census Bureau, 2016.

https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/US/PST045216#qf-headnote-a

Washington Post. Fatal Force, 2016.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/national/police-shootings-2016/

Don't Stand, Don't Kneel, Don't Protest, Don't Breathe: The White Community Responds to NFL Protests

Why does the overwhelming white majority feel they can tell the black community what kneeling during the National Anthem REALLY means? "That's disrespectful. That's like giving our soldiers the middle finger". Black people are speaking clearly and loudly and we need to listen. The American flag, that symbol of freedom which protects life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness does not represent the black communities of America.

Why does the white community get to tell the black community what is an appropriate response to injustice? “Your protest are offensive to police. You shouldn’t gather like this. You shouldn’t kneel during the National Anthem, you hate this country and you hate our soldiers”.  Black people can’t assemble and protect, black people can’t protest the flag of the United States, the very symbol of freedom that the majority of black communities have yet to benefit from. Black people can’t stand, black people can’t kneel, black people can’t talk. Then violence breaks out! People then say ,”My Lord! How did it come to this?”

I was driving to my doctor’s appointment this morning thinking about the vehement response from the offended white community. We talk about how this protest is disrespecting the flag and our nation, yet I didn’t see a single American flag in the neighborhoods I drove through. NOT A SINGLE FLAG!!! The only time I have stood for the National Anthem was at sporting events, which may have been a total of 8 times in the last 10 years. I don’t do it at home and I have rarely seen it done in other people’s homes. Why have I not been called out on dishonoring our sodiers? Because, not standing, not owning a flag, not singing the anthem doesn't mean I hate American and I hate our soldiers.

Why is the white community offended? Because a black man, (Colin Kaepernick) started a movement. He took a stand that echoes in the hearts of the majority of blacks in this country. It has challenged the status quo. It has challenged the belief “that I’m not a racist” may not be true. It has pierced our hearts! Instead of falling to our knees and asking God for forgiveness, we have stood proud and arrogantly in the face of the oppressed black community and said, “YOUR OPPRESSION IS NOT REAL! YOUR FEELINGS ARE INVALID! YOU MUST NOT DO THIS! YOU ARE BEHAVING IN AN EVIL WAY!

We need to take a serious introspective look into our utterly depraved and deceitful hearts. We need to listen to the black community and stop telling them what they can and can’t do. We need to stop justifying our false belief that what the black community is saying is not really happening. We need to listen and trust that what we are being told by the black community is the truth and we MUST seek justice and stand beside them.

When I was in Houston, helping with the flood relief efforts, I saw white, black, Hispanic, Asian, and all sorts of Americans helping out their fellow man. Why does it take a natural disaster for us to come together? When the flood happened I read posts that said, “See racism isn’t real. We are working together”. No, we were distracted and now that we have settled back into comfort, we pick up our political propaganda and march to the drum of bigotry.

I love this response, "My ancestors are Irish, Jewish, Italian (other historically oppressed groups) and they experienced slavery, hardship, bigotry, etc. Yes, that is true about many generations of Americans. Yet these groups have recovered and Black Americans have not. Why? 

Stop it. It's a straw man.

White community, stop telling black people how they should feel. Stop telling black people how to express their feelings of injustice. Stop changing the narrative to fit what you want things to mean. JUST STOP!

When Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment was, he responded, “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these” (Mark 12:30-31).

We are all up in our emotions, yet we do not perceive or understand things. God wants us to love and follow him with our hearts, yes. But, he also wants us to love him with our intellect. There is a warning in the Bible and we need to take heed. “If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen (1 John 4:20).

And the response from the white community is, “We love our black brothers and sisters”. But we do not want them speaking into our lives, we do not believe their anguish. "It’s all a farce, an ill perceived fallacy." You fear your brother and you hate what you do not understand.

God save us.