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Published May 13, 2021

187. Police, Race, and the Media: Everything You Did and Didn’t Want to Know

Jeff Krasno delves into the intricate history of racial inequality and explores the troubling intersections of policing, race, and media influence, challenging listeners to rethink systemic reform in policing and media accountability.
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  • Historical Roots

    explores the historical roots of racial oppression in the United States, tracing its evolution from slavery to modern-day systemic racism. He highlights how slave codes transformed into black codes, leading to the convict lease system, which perpetuated forced labor under the guise of punishment for crimes 1. This system laid the groundwork for institutionalized racism within policing, as seen in the transformation of slave patrols into groups like the Ku Klux Klan.

    Slave codes transformed into black codes, the defining feature of which was broad vagrancy law, which allowed local authorities to arrest freed people for minor infractions and commit them to involuntary labor.

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    Krasno also discusses the professionalization of police departments and their exclusion of Black individuals, which further entrenched racial disparities 2. He emphasizes the need to understand this history to address current issues of police brutality and systemic racism.

       

    Current Disparities

    Current racial disparities in economic and social outcomes are stark, with pointing out the vast differences in median net worth between Black and white families. He notes that the median net worth for Black families in Boston is shockingly low, highlighting systemic inequities that persist in access to education, healthcare, and housing 3. These disparities are further reflected in policing practices, where data shows Black drivers are stopped more frequently than their white counterparts, suggesting racial profiling.

    The median net worth of the white American family is $170,000. The median net worth of the black American family is $17,000.

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    Krasno questions whether police should conduct traffic stops for minor infractions, suggesting that fines could be mailed instead to reduce unnecessary confrontations 4. He also critiques the lack of proper training for police officers, which can lead to tragic outcomes during arrests.

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