   A spinoff of the tookie thread. (death penalty)
  I was just curious, as a seperate conversation, what some of our black members think of the death penalty.  My reason for asking is that a disproportionate number of executed inmates are black, so I wonder if part of the reason that whites don't mind the death penalty so much is because it is not as much of a problem for them.I realize this is a somewhat risque topic, so please keep it civil.  I am truly interested in whether there is cultural disparity regarding this punishment.   
  do you have any numbers on the ratio of white to blacks killed? cause i'd like to see proof of this. and by the way, this topic sucks, you asked the wrong question. Quote:so I wonder if part of the reason that whites don't mind the death penalty so much is because it is not as much of a problem for them.could be me, but doesn't that sound a bit racist? I know PLENTY of whites who oppose the death penalty. why does everything have to be so black and white, jesus christ [headshake]   ;  There are a disproportionate number of blacks in the prison system over all. The ratio of black to everything else on deathrow is probably about the same as that of the general prison population.   ;  *sigh*...   ;  The average black american is poorer than the average white american. => Poor people are more likely to commit crimes. => There are more black people in prison.I doubt race or racism has anything to do with it.   ;Quote:Original post by jfclavetteThe average black american is poorer than the average white american. => Poor people are more likely to commit crimes. => There are more black people in prison.I doubt race or racism has anything to do with it.What you say is true, but I think racism almost certainly is a part of it.  The fact is, the United States still has a lot of racism, and to say that those who enforce justice can never be racist is silly.  I'd like to think that poverty is the only reason, but I really am afraid that it's not.You'd really have to compare whites to blacks in prison only from the same level of wealth/class to determine if poverty is the only issue.  But I don't think we're over racism yet.   ;Quote:Original post by tstrimpThere are a disproportionate number of blacks in the prison system over all. The ratio of black to everything else on deathrow is probably about the same as that of the general prison population.i wouldnt be sure.blacks commit more typical poverty crimes, whereas the serialkiller kind of thing that gets you in deathrow is almost an exclusively white phenomena (or so ive heard)   ;  i think the question posed should have been "does the justice system discriminate against blacks?" in which case, the simple answer is that yes, it does.and here's proof.;Quote:Original post by EelcoQuote:Original post by tstrimpThere are a disproportionate number of blacks in the prison system over all. The ratio of black to everything else on deathrow is probably about the same as that of the general prison population.i wouldnt be sure.blacks commit more typical poverty crimes, whereas the serialkiller kind of thing that gets you in deathrow is almost an exclusively white phenomena (or so ive heard)serial killing isn't the only thing that gets you on death row, just because you kill someone doesn't mean your a serial killer. serial killing in america is most definitely not exclusively a white phenoma, however, the majority are white. take for instance Richard Ramirez, the Night Stalker, he was hispanic.oh, and take a look at this tstrimp (it's also a link):;Quote:Original post by DigitalChaosi think the question posed should have been "does the justice system discriminate against blacks?" in which case, the simple answer is that yes, it does.and here's proof.That isn't proof by any means. All that shows it that there are a greater number of blacks in the prison system which has already been established.   