Susan Pashman's Blog - Posts Tagged "race"
RACE OR CULTURE: WHAT'S BEHIND THE DRUG ARREST FIGURES
We are always hearing about the numbers: So many more black kids arrested on drug charges than white kids. And we all tell ourselves that this is because of poverty in black neighborhoods. But, I think there is more to this.
I would suggest that a lot of black kids--poor kids generally-- tend to live and socialize and congregate on the STREET more than white kids do. White kids are more likely to have after-school activities scheduled. But most significantly, white kids tend to invite other kids INTO THEIR HOMES. White kids have more privacy at home than black kids do.
When white teenagers smoke pot, they do so in the basements of their homes or in their rooms behind closed doors.
My guess is that white teenagers smoke as much pot, and sniff as much coke as black kids do but they don't do these things on the street. It's on the street where arrests occur. It's on the street where the smell of dope is detectable.
But it is also true that black kids get stopped and frisked more often than white, BY A HUGE PERCENTAGE. The problem, again, is that they are often carrying their drugs on their bodies. White kids, who have their own rooms and generally far more privacy in their homes, can stash their drugs in their closets or drawers for home use. They are not likely to be out on the street carrying drugs on their person.
What can we do about this disparity which surely contributes to the grossly disproportionate number of black kids being arrested for drug possession and use?
Please visit my Author Website http://susanpashman.com for more about my forthcoming novel, "Upper West Side Story," which deals with inter0racial friendships.
I would suggest that a lot of black kids--poor kids generally-- tend to live and socialize and congregate on the STREET more than white kids do. White kids are more likely to have after-school activities scheduled. But most significantly, white kids tend to invite other kids INTO THEIR HOMES. White kids have more privacy at home than black kids do.
When white teenagers smoke pot, they do so in the basements of their homes or in their rooms behind closed doors.
My guess is that white teenagers smoke as much pot, and sniff as much coke as black kids do but they don't do these things on the street. It's on the street where arrests occur. It's on the street where the smell of dope is detectable.
But it is also true that black kids get stopped and frisked more often than white, BY A HUGE PERCENTAGE. The problem, again, is that they are often carrying their drugs on their bodies. White kids, who have their own rooms and generally far more privacy in their homes, can stash their drugs in their closets or drawers for home use. They are not likely to be out on the street carrying drugs on their person.
What can we do about this disparity which surely contributes to the grossly disproportionate number of black kids being arrested for drug possession and use?
Please visit my Author Website http://susanpashman.com for more about my forthcoming novel, "Upper West Side Story," which deals with inter0racial friendships.
Race or culture: Behind the numbers of teen drug arrests
We are always hearing about the numbers: So many more black kids arrested on drug charges than white kids. And we all tell ourselves that this is because of poverty in black neighborhoods. But, I think there is more to this.
I would suggest that a lot of black kids–poor kids generally– tend to live and socialize and congregate on the STREET more than white kids do. White kids are more likely to have after-school activities scheduled. But most significantly, white kids tend to invite other kids INTO THEIR HOMES. White kids have more privacy at home than black kids do.
When white teenagers smoke pot, they do so in the basements of their homes or in their rooms behind closed doors.
My guess is that white teenagers smoke as much pot, and sniff as much coke as black kids do but they don’t do these things on the street. It’s on the street where arrests occur. It’s on the street where the smell of dope is detectable.
But it is also true that black kids get stopped and frisked more often than white, BY A HUGE PERCENTAGE. The problem, again, is that they are often carrying their drugs on their bodies. White kids, who have their own rooms and generally far more privacy in their homes, can stash their drugs in their closets or drawers for home use. They are not likely to be out on the street carrying drugs on their person.
What can we do about this disparity which surely contributes to the grossly disproportionate number of black kids being arrested for drug possession and use?
Please go to my blog at www.kidsandrace.com and leave your comment both here and there. Thank you.
I would suggest that a lot of black kids–poor kids generally– tend to live and socialize and congregate on the STREET more than white kids do. White kids are more likely to have after-school activities scheduled. But most significantly, white kids tend to invite other kids INTO THEIR HOMES. White kids have more privacy at home than black kids do.
When white teenagers smoke pot, they do so in the basements of their homes or in their rooms behind closed doors.
My guess is that white teenagers smoke as much pot, and sniff as much coke as black kids do but they don’t do these things on the street. It’s on the street where arrests occur. It’s on the street where the smell of dope is detectable.
But it is also true that black kids get stopped and frisked more often than white, BY A HUGE PERCENTAGE. The problem, again, is that they are often carrying their drugs on their bodies. White kids, who have their own rooms and generally far more privacy in their homes, can stash their drugs in their closets or drawers for home use. They are not likely to be out on the street carrying drugs on their person.
What can we do about this disparity which surely contributes to the grossly disproportionate number of black kids being arrested for drug possession and use?
Please go to my blog at www.kidsandrace.com and leave your comment both here and there. Thank you.
