Argumentative Essay On Sociological Theory

Sociological Imagination Essay

The media, stereotypes and current conviction rates put forward the notion that blacks in America perpetrate more crimes than any other race in America. Conservatives believe in this concept firmly. For that reason, they demand harsher laws while liberals call for more lenient laws such as the introduction of more social programs. However, the questions that we should ask ourselves are: Does the Government statistics confirm the claim that blacks contribute more than any other race in crime rates or are these merely a stereotypical representation of arrest and conviction rates of black people? Finally does the focus on black crime rates and behaviour overshadow a worryingly rising high crime rate among the whites?

(Greene and Gabbidon 54). Corporate crime is also overlooked when analysing crime disparity according to race. Overall, the existence of a significant difference of arrests on ethnic and racial grounds is a matter of great concern as this differences go to show us that the probability of one been arrested for drugs and weapon related crimes varies widely with one’s race or ethnicity (Greene and Gabbidon 100).
The country-wide investigation on drug use and health among youths from the ages 12-17 showed the rate of illicit drug use was 9.3% among the blacks and 11.1% among white youths (Greene and Gabbidon 100). Furthermore, white youth aged 12-17 are more likely to traffic drugs than their black counterparts by a third. Moreover, a survey on monitoring the future of high schools senior students confirmed that cocaine was used by white youths 4.6 times more than it was used by their black counterparts. Whites also use crack cocaine more than black youth by 1.5 times and use heroin at the same rate (Greene and Gabbidon 100). The survey also showed that white youth used more marijuana than black youths by a whopping 46%. Regardless of these facts African American youths are put under arrest for drug felonies at twice the rate of white youths. This is shown by the fact that 48% of all youths incarcerated for drug crimes are black. Moreover a survey conducted by the Centre for Disease control (CDC) on the risk behaviour of youths in 2001 indicated that the rates at which black and white youths carry a weapon were almost similar with whites at 17.9% and African Americans at 15.2 (Greene and Gabbidon 100). The rates at which they carry a gun were also similar with the whites were at 5.5%, and blacks were at 6.5%. However, this is not transparent in the rates of arrest as black youths signify 32% of all weapons arrests and were put under arrest twice as much as their white contemporaries for weapon offences (Greene and Gabbidon 100). About the same report conducted by the CDC, blacks and whites reported to have been in a physical fight is at nearly the same frequency 32.5% for whites against 36.5% for blacks, despite that fact blacks were arrested on account of physical assault three times more than that of whites (Greene and Gabbidon 100).
To delve more in to the issue concerning disparity in the judicial system we are going to use the critical race theory.

Simply put race matters considerably in how the nation's justice department decides on its cases, this is evident in the countries racial criminal history whereby witnesses who could testify and punishments to be enforced were significantly determined by one’s race. That begs us to ask ourselves whether race in the delivering of justice will ever stop being a factor. Having that in mind it only seems natural to devote the issue to the interventions Critical Race Theory CRT can offer. To many readers this begs the question as to what is CRT. There is no particular answer to the question as most scholars of CRT are against the notion of a united school of thought we could, therefore, assume it is safe to say CRT rejects legal liberalism (Berberoglu 76). Therefore, it can be said that CRT theorists do not have faith in the neutral dealings and practical principals of formal equality for every race. CRT theorists believe that the practices and principles of the American law are designed to maintain the privilege of the whites over the blacks; it also includes the anti-discrimination laws. Not only do CRT theorists work hard to reveal how the law operates in regard to people’s races and the maintaining of a hierarchy but they also commit themselves to the challenging of the racial hierarchy subordination and all of its different forms. In so doing critical race

theorists insist on open minded race awareness and a complete investigation of the several structures of subordination of races. They also insist on the inclusion of accounts countering social realities. Moreover CRT theorists critique power relationships focused to the several scopes in which subordination occurs.
A review of the principal works that resulted in the formation of this movement discloses themes and doctrines that recur. The first of these dogmas is that colour blind laws present exist to ostracize social political and economic equality. The second one is that legal reforms that benefit the racial minorities only occur when the changes will consequently favour the interests of the white people who are the majority. This phenomenon is known as interest convergence. Thirdly, they believe that race is biologically insignificant, and it is only socially and legally created. The fourth view is that coercion and subordination operate on various axes and thus rejecting crude essentialism. The final view of critical race theorists is that race is often left out in the law (Berberoglu 90). CRT scholars, therefore, strive to make race visible. However, there is no single approach in CRT as much of its literature involves personal narratives that are also known as legal storytelling. Moreover, scholars of CRT have turned to research showing hidden biases to support their theory.
The situation stipulated above applies directly to the real life as it clearly shows blacks and Latinos are not treated equally by the justice system of the country. Therefore, it is more likely for one to be arrested if one is black or Latin than if you are white.
Several lessons can also be extracted from the above study. Race is biologically irrelevant as one cannot choose which race he/she wishes to belong to. We should also strive to stop racial discrimination in the justice system. This can be achieved by engaging the community in racial discrimination awareness, eliminating racial profiling within all institutes, require a cultural competence training for those working in the justice system and finally implement the strategies and policies that will lead to the decrease of racism in the judicial system.
We have to admit that racism is still an issue in the modern world. Not only is it apparent in the judicial system only but it is also evident in other institutions and in order to stop racism each individual has to shun it as all races are equal and none is superior to the other.