Racial Disparities among African Americans Flashcards
Racial Disparities
Differences in treatment, opportunities, and outcomes experienced by African Americans compared to other racial groups in the criminal justice system and society.
White Privilege
Unearned advantages and benefits that white individuals receive based on their race, leading to better opportunities and treatment in society.
Jim Crow Laws
Segregation laws in the United States that enforced racial discrimination, such as bans on interracial marriages and segregated facilities.
New Jim Crow
The modern-day system of mass incarceration that disproportionately affects African Americans, replacing overt racial discrimination with criminalization.
Driving While Black (DWB)
The experience of African Americans being targeted by law enforcement for traffic stops based on their race rather than actual violations.
Crack Epidemic
The rise of crack cocaine in poor African American communities, leading to harsh drug policies and reinforcing negative stereotypes.
Sentencing Disparities
Unequal treatment of African American defendants in the criminal justice system, resulting in harsher sentences and higher conviction rates compared to white individuals.
Plea Bargaining
A process where a defendant agrees to plead guilty to a lesser charge in exchange for a more lenient sentence, often used to avoid a trial.
Courtroom Workgroup
Individuals in the courtroom, including jurors, officers, judges, and other court officials, who work together to ensure the smooth flow of cases and may rely on stereotypes in decision-making.
Racial Disparities
Differences in treatment or outcomes experienced by individuals of different races, often leading to disproportionate negative impacts on minority groups.
Incarceration
The act of being confined in prison, which can have long-lasting effects on individuals, families, and communities.
Institutional Racism
Systemic patterns of discrimination based on race within institutions like the criminal justice system, leading to unfair treatment and negative consequences for African Americans.
Social Mobility
The ability of individuals or families to move up or down in social class, often hindered by factors like incarceration and racial disparities.
Cultural Competence
The ability to understand, communicate with, and effectively interact with people across different cultures, crucial for providing equitable education and support.
Historical Trauma
Past events or experiences that continue to impact individuals, communities, and societies, often leading to long-term effects on well-being and opportunities.
