Police killings in the USA

[HAL]

How do you usually introduce yourself?

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Mummy hug.

Baby shudder.

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[David]

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As far as I can tell, the serious studies on this issue do not support systemic discrimination in shooting between black and other ethnicities, once we control for the context of a given encounter. It seems that black suspects are disproportionately represented in circumstances where shooting is likely (eg where the suspect brandishes a weapon, or creates a reasonable fear of harm). This is the factor which explains the differential rate. It is notable that recent black immigrants, largely Somali or Nigerian, rarely seem to be shot by police (though of course, as an individual, anyone can be shot in America). This does not fit the reflexive political narrative, so when politics trumps truth, it tends not to be discussed.

Why do police encounter more young black men in circumstances which make shootings more likely ? Well, non-immigrant black Americans have suffered for years from disproportionate levels of family breakdown, high rates of teenage pregnancy, low rates of educational attainment, and general economic disadvantage in a society where everyone seems be losing, except for a few at the top.

It might be wise if the kneelers actually looked at making their protests a little more sophisticated and thoughtful, rather than indulging in an act of gross oversimplification. But then, this type of protest is rarely about solving anything. Truth and level-headed inquiry should come first, politics second,but we seem to be losing the capacity for that.

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[David]

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^ yes, they are entitled to protest, of course. That helps make America what it is. I just think their protest is inarticulate, unreasoned by its nature and jejune, and the protest of the paying public is of course also legitimate.

As to the systemic disadvantage, we agree, but the Texas study showed that, in a given context, black men are no more likely to be shot by police than other ethnicities. I am yet to see a sound rebuttal of that rigorous study.

Black men do have worse outcomes, as I said. It doubtless begins with slavery, but the question is what factors embed the disadvantage among working class black men in modern times ? If you think it is just, or largely, the eternal catch-all of "racism", I think that needs more rigorous evidence. Living as I do in one of the most cosmopolitan cities of the world, where individuals of every background almost always rub along together pretty amiably, I think the evidence is that most people are not racist, though they do generically discriminate on features that they see as salient to threat.

The collapse of parenting in black families was first diagnosed by Daniel Moynihan in the Johnson administration (there is a reason the term motherf*cker came to be used widely in black street gangs in the late 1960s) and the consequences have been terrible, as he predicted. If you take away from young men the stabilizing influence of a male role model who goes to work, brings home money and cares for his children, you store up a whole host of problems. I suspect that lies at the root of much of the problem, but good luck finding anyone who is prepared to kneel on behalf of individual responsibility and personal restraint. That really would be an interesting protest.

[David]

though they do generically discriminate on features that they see as salient to threat.

Well that's the whole problem here, isn't it? Blackness is seen as inherently threatening, therefore some police officers will overreact and innocent people will get gunned down. A handful of deaths like that a year may not make many statistical waves, but they are of course a tragedy and one that ought to be fought back against.

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[Wokko]

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[stui magpie]

If that graph is accurate, it puts the whole thing into perspective doesn't it.

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^ yep, I thought the same. The modern obsession with collective identity is about power, far more than justice.