Examples Of Institutionalized Racism

When you hear the words Institutionalized Racism what comes to your mind? Do you think of things such as a corrupt Justice system or do you think of how the system is set up for black to fail? Institutionalized Racism is a form of racism that is manifest in the practice of social, political, and cultural institutions. It is also practiced by individuals or in informal social groups that are governed by behavioral norms that support racist policies. This form of racism happens on a daily basis throughout the world; just because you do not know the proper terminology does not mean it is not happening. Even though I have not had a personal experience with institutionalized racism, I feel the pain and heartache for the ones that have experienced it because it could have been one of my loved ones.
The most known incidents of institutionalized racism are Trayvon Martin, Mike Brown, Eric Garner and Kalief Browder just to name a few. Everyone that I mentioned the lives of these innocent African Americans were cut short, because of the racist political institutions that were formed to work

against the African American Race. Police Officers as well as a Judge take a black male life almost every day because of the fear and white supremacy that they have of a race, despite the fact that we are stronger, smarter, and more pure than they are, they have criminalized and dehumanized us.
On February 26, 2012 in Sanford, Florida a young black male was followed and fatally shot by a Latino male by name of George Zimmerman. Trayvon Benjamin Martin who at the time was 17 years old was followed by someone who did not have the authority to do so which was the cause of his life being taken away. In Zimmerman’s defense, he claimed to be defending himself from a person that he attacked for looking suspicious. When the case was brought up in court Zimmerman’s father Robert Zimmerman states, “George has been unfairly portrayed as a racist”. In my opinion actions speak louder than words and Zimmerman’s actions say otherwise. A year later on July 13, 2103 George Zimmerman was found not guilty of by a jury of six woman based on the stand your ground law. Trayvon’s life was not valuable enough to be saved by the corrupt justice system but if the shoe were on the other foot he would currently be in jail for second-degree murder.
The second case of Institutionalized Racism is the case of Eric Garner.

An African American male whose life ended when he was placed in an illegal choke hold by a plainclothes officer by the name of Daniel Panteleo on July 17, 2014. There was a video taken of the incident where Mr. Gardner had his hands up as he was being approached by Panteleo and his partner. Panteleo placed him in a chokehold throwing him to the ground as he yelled out 10 times “I CANT BREATH” as he took his last breath. The death was ruled a homicide but Officer Panteleo walks free of all charges, and it does not come as a surprise but a shock. How can someone not be charged of a crime that they committed when the force that they used was Illegal? Chokeholds were banned by the New York City Police Department in 1993. That goes to show you how fraudulent the system is when it comes to people of African

Descent.
Philando Castile is the story that broke me sickened me to my core. Castile was pulled over for a broken tail light which ended in a fatal shooting while his girlfriend sat in the passenger seat and his 4 year old daughter right behind him witnessing the tragedy. The only good outcome of this situation was Officer Yanez being charged with Second- Degree manslaughter; but it does not align the uncalled for actions that he had done. Yet another brother taken from his family and friends for reaching for his wallet, because the officer had so much fear in his heart that a black man was who was licensed to carry a firearm and notified him of such would shoot you. The unfounded act goes to demonstrate how black people are being criminalized via the white man who sees nothing but color.
African American people have been condemned, victimized, desensitized, and oppressed by a scheme that was never meant to defend us. The un-justice acts of murders that has brought upon my brothers and sisters, made me protect the males that I love more even now. I consumed to remind them that they are kinds and nothing less than that; that if no one else will protect you and cherish your life us black queen’s will. My black is beautiful and I refuse to let anyone try to brainwash me tell me otherwise.