How have the courts affected African Americans in Our Nation (U.S.)???
145542
Well, they did give them equal rights and the right to vote. There are also cases of affirmative action (choosing a person for a job or college because they are of a different race; it's also called reverse racism).
1079555
I can't help but wonder where everyone's sense is. I don't know about "owed something," but if the majority of Americans truly believe that people of color are *not* discriminated against in our society, we are in a very sad state.\n\nRead the Constitution, people. The US Constitution and Bill of Rights is one of the most incredible documents ever written. One of its overall purposes was to establish a government that PROTECTED THE MINORITY FROM THE MAJORITY. Because in all times and all places, it is the minority that NEEDS protection.\n\nWhen I hear people say that Hispanics and blacks are lazy welfare bums, I want to scream. Do any of you truly believe that a mom chooses to live in a studio apartment with her kids with maybe $47 a month left over for clothes, soap. laundry, transportation, entertainment, school lunch, birthday gifts, furniture, dishes, pencils, toilet paper, shampoo, books and aluminum foil because she's trying to take advantage of you!? One minute's thought should dispel THAT belief. They do it because they stumbled into the situation, and can find no way out of it.\n\nNo, not all people of color are in that situation, but there are reasons that a higher percentage of the poor people in our country are minorities. It is because, in spite of what you say, they DO NOT have the same opportunities as the majority. Every day I read numerous posts here that begin, "I am not a racist, but . . ." and then they paint every black or brown American with the same lazy, stupid, criminal, drug addict brush. The people writing some of those posts are the people doing the hiring.\n\nAgain, in every society, the marginalized minority *is* the group that commits the most crimes per capita. Why? What the heck have they got to lose? \n\nCan you imagine what it's like being pulled over for "driving while black?" I can't. I am over 50, and I've been pulled over ONCE. Will Smith, one of the best-known, richest, and most respected African-Americans, said that he drives a fancy car and lives in a fancy neighborhood and gets pulled over about ONCE A MONTH. How do you think that kind of harassment might change your attitudes and behaviors? What might happen to your self-esteem if every time you walked into a store, the owner followed 20 steps behind you blatently staring at you?\n\nIf there's one science book between 5 students, aren't we all responsible for the kids' poor education? Should that mom above stop buying toilet paper to save up for six months for a $140 science book?\n\nEach individual must be held responsible for his own behavior. But to pretend that there's some kind of inborn propensity for evil among some groups is not only stupid, it's how societies fall.\n\nBTW, I am white. I am not currently on welfare, but have been. I am a single mom. I tend toward political conservatism, and I am ashamed of my countrymen's lack of understanding of simple social dynamics. Americans are ONE people with a beautiful tapestry of varied roots. The sooner we realize it, the better off this country will be. And if we don't, it will tear us apart at the seams. In fact, it already is.\n\nI don't know the answers. I know that things are a bit better than they were 50 years ago. But sometimes I wonder if it might not have been easier when words like ni**er and spi*k weren't politically incorrect. At least then people didn't start their rants with "I am not a racist, but . . ." The lines, at least, were clearer.
848247
Things haven't change a bit sinse then compared to 50's and 60's esp during the segregation period. Georgia, is the most racist state I know, and mississippi too. I think it's really racist everywhere, things havent changed, martin king did have a dream, that all whites and black would be sitting at the table together, well that dream did come true, because we do have alot of interracial marriages more than we did back in the day. I think now statistically, even the "majority" will disagree with this. but minorities are now becoming the majoritities....
335196
Although they have been the champions of blacks who have been oppressed and treated like dirt over the years in the United States, those days have pretty much gone by the wayside for the most part. Oh granted there are and always will be racisim and there is nothing tha can be done about it sadly. The unfortunate part of the NAACP is that because there are no more real hard core causes for them to mount, they have a tendency to go on crusades for asinine reasons, only to make themselves look even more foolish when you bring Jesse Jackson or worse...that simpleton Al Sharpton aboard. Of course the ACLU is the same way. Any cause just to let you know that they are still around. I think that if they re-evaluated their agendas and lobbied for real issues that may arise instead of pushing to make ebonics a second language they could once again be a moving force and one you could begin to take seriuosly once again instead of looking at everything they lobby for with a skewed eye.
589140
well i see i live in a backward thinking racist country that has not learned a thing about how to treat our nieghbors and fellow americans  no wonder we can't get along its people like the ones who have answered this question that should be lined up against a wall ,and i bet you thought i was gonna say shot , but i won't,told to face it and left there all day long to think about just what it means if they are realy that sick .that means we have failed at raising the level of education in this country .not one of those people beleifs in god and after all the reason w are here is to serve the lord as best we can set a good example and leave this earth bound for heaven .its not for me to say but there is gonna be a few people not head in that direction when they pass from this earth if there minds are full of hate .i fthe feds had gotten of there buts and moved in quicker the suffering of thousands could have been releaved much sooner people in mississippi could walk along roads inland for help neworleans  peolle where turned back at gun point trying to cross bridges to saftey why america didn'tlose it right then and theremade me realixe how little as changed in this country over my life-time so far 43 years grew up in the sixties remember people talking like blacks were animals and should stay on there side of the tracks and no blacks would be getting in there schools if they could help it they had there own and what were they complaining about.i see america hasn't changed a bit if a black town had held whites at gun point and told them to turn back the military would of had gunships blast a path right thru them  i see this now i have no clue what it must feel like to be black in this country and as for me am am sorry i have done nothing to change this i am ashamed and will right  a letter to my senators mel martinez and bill nelson here in florida to let them know how i feel about this i am sure it will do no good but maybe it will.i willask them to lookat the answers posted to such an ordinary question and the kind of hate full responce it gets in this country .i am shocked .i hope they are to and something is done not to these people but to bring americans closer togheter more laws don't change a thing people do there lifes were erevokably changed and not for the better a way of life was changed for ever in a communitythat for better or worse held togheter in the toughfest times till the storms blew them out .i hope they my someday return to the life they new but beleive its gone forever.
479080
There is a lot of information on the internet about this topic.  I just typed "racial bias in capital punishment" and 196,000 results popped up.  If you enter each type of bias you will get plenty of source material.
795223
Less then the NAACP would want you to believe. I live in Jersey and when the scandal broke we all questioned one thing. Almost everyone complaining of racial profiling was found to be in the act of violating the LAW.... Drugs, Guns, you name it......
797793
It may be surprising to some younger people who have just learned about these things in public schools, but in many ways blacks were better off under segregation. Black families were strong during segregation, but now blacks have a 70% illegetimacy rate. Crime was also not a big problem in black neighborhoods during segregation, but it is now. Also, blacks were less likely to be in prison during segegation than they are now. I could give many other examples as well.\n\nEverything was not perfect in those days, and some whites did mistreat blacks in those years, but that does not mean the concept of segregation was bad in and of itself. If we ever try segregation again we could eliminate those unfair practices.
76881
Some of the things that our Justice System does never ceases to amaze me.  I have sat through many court hearings and it always surprises me that many violent offenders would get probation and the non violent or victimless crimes had the book thrown at them.  The whole system needs to be looked at and have some real changes made to it.  We have too many repeat offenders on the streets and not nearly enough people who have committed a violent crime behind bars protecting society.  Our government's war on drugs may have something to do with prosecuter's and judge's thinking when it come to those kind of crimes, because statisticly it will look like we are really cracking down on the problem, when in fact we really are getting no place with it.  Fact is drug users will probably find it easier to score while in prison than on the streets.  Nobody wants a prison or jail in their neighborhood,yet with our growing population we need more of them to fit our needs.  There will always be a portion of the population that is not going to play by the rules and be in trouble.  Those that we need to change is the Prrosecuting Attorney who makes all the deals and the Judge's that accept them.  These people are elected officials and if they do not act as we need we can vote them out.  You will find that one individual has a lot more clout in local county political races and can do a lot more by constantly working on the local level.  You can take a whole state by taking it one county at a time.  You will be surprised by how many people one voice can affect, you started by asking the question now take it a step further.
159062
The number of African-American players is as low as it has been since the 50's, about one in every ten. However players from the Dominican Republic, Cuba, Venezuala, and other Cental American countries is at an all time high; nearly 45%... A recent Stanford study shows that in urban areas baseball popularity has been, and still is, on a decline, it has been briskly dropping for the past 15 years.\n\n  A question that been on my mind for some time now is, ''Why is the number of Caucasian players in basketball so low?''. Yes I know that someone who reads this will probably say it's because white dudes can't jump, I'm not denying this but I simply wonder.\n\n  In any issue that involves race it is impossible for someone not to come out offended at something. It is a very sensitive topic. I, however, offer my solution, which is this: Who cares?. It's one thing to worry about health care and education in poverty stricken areas, but when it comes to something like sports I think that we in this country are concerned a little to much.\n\n  If African-American teens don't want to play baseball, who cares? Is it not their choice? If basketball and football are the sports of choice to black males, let them do what they want and let's all focus our energy on solutions for an issue that actually has an once of importance to it. \n\n  Does anyone really think that a starving child in the Sudan or India gives a damn about why the number of African-American baseball players is decreasing?
437139
That used to be the case but not anymore.\n\nSome years ago there was a very detailed and thorough research project conducted called 'Getting Away With Murder' and it looked at how different people faired in court.  It found that if an identical crime were committed in identical circumstances that some people received for more lenient treatment in the judicial process.\n\nThese are the summary findings...\n\nBlacks faired worse then whites\nMen faired worse than women\nThe poorer you were the worse it was\nThe less educated you were the worse it was\n25 to 40 year olds got the worst treatment, the elderly got the best\nUgly people faired worse then attractive people.\n\nA lot of it comes down to stereotyping.  Imagine a 25 year old black male, not good looking, uneducated and poor against an attractive 18 year old female from a well off family and with a good education.  The black man is going to get a much stiffer punishment than the white female even if the crimes are identical.\n\nHowever... In recent years things have changed and those in the judiciary are aware of racial accusations being leveled against them.  Asians are likely to receive the lightest sentence whilst whites and blacks can expect about the same.\n\nAll the other aspects remain unchanged so if you want a crime committing get an attractive, educated, wealthy, young Asian lady to do it for you.\n\nAs for the jury, it has to be representative of the community as a whole and if it isn't then the prosecution or defence will object.
879435
1)Yes, we still live in a racist country.  I am a 46 year old Black woman who has experienced quite a bit of racism bcos of the color of my skin (caramel) without any knowledge of who I really am.  I have traveled quite a bit within the states as well as other countries & honestly cannot see much of a difference.  Point in case...I've even traveled to Africa & have been faced with questions like "what are you?".  I think that I offended the one asking the question bcos I said "I'm an American".  They responded "do you mean African-American?" to which I responded "sure if thats how you would like to phrase it".  2) Yes my parents had a hard time but they "dealt with it" by being active in the civil rights movement.  My great-grandmother would never let me work in the fields when I visited saying " no way, your Mom & Grandmama would have a fit & besides those days are over for your generation".  She was right, however there are others here who seem to forget that.  With regards to "us guys" still living in this country...this is our country & we'll fight for the right to live here....in peace.
1090030
In a perfect world where justice was perfectly administered every single time, the death penalty might be the appropriate punishment for the most heinous crimes. However, this isn't a perfect world. And, justice is rarely administered appropriately or fairly.  Race and class impact the judicial system. Those who are minorities and/or poor rarely receive the level of legal representation that the dominant race and/or the wealthy receive. Nor are they like to receive the same caliber of due process. Statistically, law enforcement treats minority and/or poor suspects quite differently than the wealthy. \n\nSo, at every step of the legal process from arrest to trial to judgement and finally, to the imposition of that judgement, the race and class of the person impacts the outcome. Because this is so endemic to the judicial system at both the federal and a state level, the death penalty  as the ultimate penalty should no longer be imposed at least not until the issues of class and race have been better resolved in the US than they are at present.
447542
Yes, it's kind of sad these days with all the lawsuits flying around.  But I think those people think of it as "easy money" and I doubt our justice system will ever change much.  We have 10000 warning labels these days just because of random lawsuits and such, such as the labels on irons that say, "Don't iron anything if you're wearing it." :)
601438
Helping you out with your homework huh?  Well I will not make it 4 or five sentences long but will give you something to think about.  \nThe impact it has on the American history is it started the rebellion against taxation and the mother country.  The second thing is that Americans decided to govern themselves and form a new government.  It also lead to no one ruler will govern America, judicial system, legislative branch and the executive branch.  It lead to a revolt and to the rights of our civil liberties.
566330
Yes.......as a white Southern male I've seen and experienced racism, myself. I've been excluded, leered at, screamed at and taken advantage of. I've felt fear and have had to protect myself. I've been taxed unfairly to pay for racially-motivated legislation. My work AND home neighborhoods have been targeted by minorities to rob and vandalize.\n\nMy city has suffered the ravages of bus sing and unfair teacher retention based on race. I have been discriminated  against in employment because of my race and high level of education and general achievement.\n\nAlthough my race is TEMPORARILY in the majority, here, I cannot take my grievances to any court because the majority is not "protected"..........while the minorities are protected in court as a "persecuted minority".\n\nThe State University that I was attending was totally disbanded and then occupied by court-order by an historically minority university that has deliberately thumbed its nose at the friendly courts and refused to integrate the requested 27%.....and until this day has decreased its population of white students down below 9%.\n\nHowever, I am not bitter. I love it here in my city and hope that any/all minorities that have misunderstood the majority stance on these subjects will come to some common-sense reassessments of their positions.\n\nI hope for peace and prosperity for all of my fellow Southern citizens.......with plenty of happiness and health thrown in for good measure.
261502
It's the EEOC, and they wont help you because their budget has been cut also. NAACP if you are black. ACLU if it a catastrophic incident, they even helped RUSH LIMBAUGH with his drug problems, and the court system.