White Privilege, Wealth and the U.S. Criminal Justice System | Urban Cusp

22.7.12

White Privilege, Wealth and the U.S. Criminal Justice System | Urban Cusp: Our experiences with the criminal justice point to the harsh realities and injustices that plague this nation. While my father, since he was not sentenced to prison, retained his right to vote, many millions of Americans, have been disenfranchised, unable to participate in our democracy. The majority of those disenfranchised are African American and Latino. If incarceration rates continue, 30 percent of the next generation of African American men will be stripped of the right to vote. If we look at specific states, the situation is unfathomable right now. Thirty one percent of African American men in Alabama and Florida have lost the ability to participate in Democracy with their vote. In 6 states, as many as 1 and 4 black men have been permanently disenfranchised. A total of 1.4 million black men (13%) are unable to vote. They have paid their debt to society yet are forced to continue to pay in the form of their rights.