Article|Archive
Self-defense is a natural reaction to danger. Yet, in America, many expect Black folks to “turn the other cheek.” Not to respond to a perceived imminent threat. This is evident from the racial disparities in the criminal justice system. “When the shooter is white and the victim is Black, the rate of justifiable homicide is 34%.” Yet, “when the races are reversed,” the “rate of justifiable homicide falls to only 3%.” A Harvard Review study found that legal standards may appear “race neutral on their face.” Yet, implicit bias can influence the relevant determinations made about a case. In other words, the race of the victim and the suspect impacts public perception. Indeed, “racially coded language activates commonly held societal assumptions.” For instance, “whether they believe the victim poses an imminent threat that necessitates violent action.” This distinction is key in self-defense cases.
It’s common for society to portray Black people as more violent than other racial groups. This, in turn, activates the assumption that they are the aggressors when circumstances arise. In this environment, the perception of guilt is intertwined with racial attitudes. This explains why white people are less likely to see Black people’s self-defense claims as reasonable. Take, for instance, the fatal shooting of Trayvon Martin in 2012. The 17-year-old Black teenager was walking home wearing a hoodie, carrying a pack of Skittles in his pocket. Yet, he crossed paths with someone who believed he didn’t fit in that neighborhood. George Zimmerman, a 28-year-old white neighborhood watch volunteer, pursued him. In doing so, he initiated a physical altercation that ended in the fatal shooting. The tragedy sparked public outcry.
At the trial, defense attorneys portrayed Trayvon Martin, the victim of the crime, as a “scary Black man.” This was an effort to justify the killing of an unarmed teenager. It’s no different than when society scrutinizes the clothing decisions of sexual assault victims. All to portray them as promiscuous, and garner support for the alleged perpetrator. Ultimately, the jury, which comprised five white women and one Latina, returned a verdict of “not guilty” in the Zimmerman case. This deepened the sorrow of the black community. And inspired the emergence of the Black Lives Matter movement. Many white people believed that Trayvon Martin’s self-defense was an act of violence. And that Zimmerman was the actual victim. It was as if they couldn’t fathom the fear of a teenager walking home alone, followed by an adult stranger. His black racial identity evoked negative societal assumptions. Which, in turn, deprived him of justice.
Another case that highlights this skewed public perception would be the recent tragedy in Frisco, Texas, involving two 17-year-old student athletes. Since last week, the country has become enthralled in a national discourse about race. Karmelo Anthony, a Black teenager, allegedly stabbed Austin Metcalf, a white teenager, following a dispute in the bleachers at a track meet. The details of the case are still unfolding. But some things are clear. Karmelo admitted to stabbing Austin, but claimed he acted in self-defense. “He put his hands on me, I told him not to,” he told the arresting officer. Of course, any time someone dies following an altercation, this is a tragedy. But, in Texas, someone can defend themselves under Stand Your Ground laws. A jury must review the facts and relay its opinion on legal culpability. But in a society where Black people are assumed to be dangerous, race will likely play a role in shaping the outcome of this high-profile case. As research demonstrated, racial bias may impact the perception of lethal force, whether they see Black people’s self-defense as valid or an expression of violence.
Racists have had a field day using this case to attack Anthony and taint the jury pool. And malign Black Americans. One writer affiliated with The Poke used a photograph to claim “Black culture is a problem.” This caption appeared above a photo of Karmelo Anthony holding an air rifle. Byron Gray, a faith-based rap artist, pointed out that this misleading narrative was taking shape. The original photograph shows Anthony standing alongside three teenagers. One was Black, and the other two were white. Each of them can be seen throwing up lewd gestures, as high school students often do. Cropping out the white teenagers was an intentional effort to portray Black people as violent, across the board—posts like this attempt to activate racist stereotypical beliefs. In doing so, they hoped white citizens would dismiss the nuance of the case, such as his claim of self-defense. Or the fact that the crime in question didn’t involve a firearm. Instead, some depend on assumptions to shape their judgment.
“During this difficult time, we urge the public to refrain from rushing to judgment before all the facts and evidence are presented,” Karmelo’s lawyers noted in a statement on Monday. “Like all citizens of the United States,” they argued, “he is entitled to a fair and impartial legal process.”
It’s unfortunate. But some are using Austin Metcalf’s death as a way of fanning the flames of racial tensions in America. They’re doing so by assuming Karmelo’s guilt and painting all Black Americans with a broad brush. Some are reviving the White Lives Matter slogan, popularized by racists. Online, they’ve suggested Black people who support his defense are promoting violence. Hopefully, cool heads will prevail. And we’ll be able to discuss as a nation why Black self-defense is often presumed to be violence. Much of the discourse has framed Anthony as the aggressor despite minimal details released to the public. As a result, many overlook any possible explanation for his behavior. His attorney, Deric Walpole, believes his client “acted in self-defense.” This matches what he told police officers at the time of his arrest: “I was protecting myself.” Yet, some are not willing to wait for more details to surface. Their snap judgments illustrate how racial bias muddies public perception.
Black self-defense has always been a controversial topic in American society. This is particularly true among white Americans. Take, for instance, anti-segregation demonstrations at southern lunch counters. White protesters would often spit on or assault peaceful Black protesters. A natural reaction to this would be to fight back. But, organizers taught protesters not to respond to provocation. In doing so, they exposed the cruelty of racial segregation policies. Yet, at what cost? Self-defense is a natural reaction to perceived imminent violence. And suppressing that reaction to appease others is dehumanizing. Not to mention dangerous. A civil rights leader, Malcolm X often spoke about the need for self-defense within the black community. “Concerning nonviolence, it’s criminal to teach a man not to defend himself when he is the constant victim of brutal attacks.” In another instance, he said, “I don’t even call it violence when it’s in self-defense; I call it intelligence.” His teachings challenged the notion that Black Americans should “grin and bear it.”
When people receive fragments of a story, racist stereotypes often fill in the gaps. Social scientists suggest that prejudice causes individuals to make quick and firm judgments as they reduce ambiguity. Those who lack substantial real-world experience with Black people often assume the worst because this negative snap judgment is psychologically more comfortable. And as a result overlook a more realistic, nuanced portrayal. The public should be cautious of falling prey to stereotypes, as they contaminate perceptions of guilt in self-defense trials. We should also keep in mind that modern-day manifestations of racism are not always explicit, such as the expression of slurs or derogatory statements. However, that doesn’t mean they are uninfluenced by societal assumptions. Or flying above the fray. On the contrary, racial bias shapes our evaluations. It explains why people are more likely to rate a Black defendant as guilty and why they are so often wrongfully convicted of crimes, as our nation has a racial perception problem.
Self-defense is a natural reaction to danger. Yet, in America, many expect Black folks to “turn the other cheek.” Not to respond to a perceived imminent threat. This is evident from the racial disparities in the criminal justice system. “When the shooter is white and the victim is Black, the rate of justifiable homicide is 34%.” Yet, “when the races are reversed,” the “rate of justifiable homicide falls to only 3%.” A Harvard Review study found that legal standards may appear “race neutral on their face.” Yet, implicit bias can influence the relevant determinations made about a case. In other words, the race of the victim and the suspect impacts public perception. Indeed, “racially coded language activates commonly held societal assumptions.” For instance, “whether they believe the victim poses an imminent threat that necessitates violent action.” This distinction is key in self-defense cases.
It’s common for society to portray Black people as more violent than other racial groups. This, in turn, activates the assumption that they are the aggressors when circumstances arise. In this environment, the perception of guilt is intertwined with racial attitudes. This explains why white people are less likely to see Black people’s self-defense claims as reasonable. Take, for instance, the fatal shooting of Trayvon Martin in 2012. The 17-year-old Black teenager was walking home wearing a hoodie, carrying a pack of Skittles in his pocket. Yet, he crossed paths with someone who believed he didn’t fit in that neighborhood. George Zimmerman, a 28-year-old white neighborhood watch volunteer, pursued him. In doing so, he initiated a physical altercation that ended in the fatal shooting. The tragedy sparked public outcry.
At the trial, defense attorneys portrayed Trayvon Martin, the victim of the crime, as a “scary Black man.” This was an effort to justify the killing of an unarmed teenager. It’s no different than when society scrutinizes the clothing decisions of sexual assault victims. All to portray them as promiscuous, and garner support for the alleged perpetrator. Ultimately, the jury, which comprised five white women and one Latina, returned a verdict of “not guilty” in the Zimmerman case. This deepened the sorrow of the black community. And inspired the emergence of the Black Lives Matter movement. Many white people believed that Trayvon Martin’s self-defense was an act of violence. And that Zimmerman was the actual victim. It was as if they couldn’t fathom the fear of a teenager walking home alone, followed by an adult stranger. His black racial identity evoked negative societal assumptions. Which, in turn, deprived him of justice.
Another case that highlights this skewed public perception would be the recent tragedy in Frisco, Texas, involving two 17-year-old student athletes. Since last week, the country has become enthralled in a national discourse about race. Karmelo Anthony, a Black teenager, allegedly stabbed Austin Metcalf, a white teenager, following a dispute in the bleachers at a track meet. The details of the case are still unfolding. But some things are clear. Karmelo admitted to stabbing Austin, but claimed he acted in self-defense. “He put his hands on me, I told him not to,” he told the arresting officer. Of course, any time someone dies following an altercation, this is a tragedy. But, in Texas, someone can defend themselves under Stand Your Ground laws. A jury must review the facts and relay its opinion on legal culpability. But in a society where Black people are assumed to be dangerous, race will likely play a role in shaping the outcome of this high-profile case. As research demonstrated, racial bias may impact the perception of lethal force, whether they see Black people’s self-defense as valid or an expression of violence.
Racists have had a field day using this case to attack Anthony and taint the jury pool. And malign Black Americans. One writer affiliated with The Poke used a photograph to claim “Black culture is a problem.” This caption appeared above a photo of Karmelo Anthony holding an air rifle. Byron Gray, a faith-based rap artist, pointed out that this misleading narrative was taking shape. The original photograph shows Anthony standing alongside three teenagers. One was Black, and the other two were white. Each of them can be seen throwing up lewd gestures, as high school students often do. Cropping out the white teenagers was an intentional effort to portray Black people as violent, across the board—posts like this attempt to activate racist stereotypical beliefs. In doing so, they hoped white citizens would dismiss the nuance of the case, such as his claim of self-defense. Or the fact that the crime in question didn’t involve a firearm. Instead, some depend on assumptions to shape their judgment.
“During this difficult time, we urge the public to refrain from rushing to judgment before all the facts and evidence are presented,” Karmelo’s lawyers noted in a statement on Monday. “Like all citizens of the United States,” they argued, “he is entitled to a fair and impartial legal process.”
It’s unfortunate. But some are using Austin Metcalf’s death as a way of fanning the flames of racial tensions in America. They’re doing so by assuming Karmelo’s guilt and painting all Black Americans with a broad brush. Some are reviving the White Lives Matter slogan, popularized by racists. Online, they’ve suggested Black people who support his defense are promoting violence. Hopefully, cool heads will prevail. And we’ll be able to discuss as a nation why Black self-defense is often presumed to be violence. Much of the discourse has framed Anthony as the aggressor despite minimal details released to the public. As a result, many overlook any possible explanation for his behavior. His attorney, Deric Walpole, believes his client “acted in self-defense.” This matches what he told police officers at the time of his arrest: “I was protecting myself.” Yet, some are not willing to wait for more details to surface. Their snap judgments illustrate how racial bias muddies public perception.
Black self-defense has always been a controversial topic in American society. This is particularly true among white Americans. Take, for instance, anti-segregation demonstrations at southern lunch counters. White protesters would often spit on or assault peaceful Black protesters. A natural reaction to this would be to fight back. But, organizers taught protesters not to respond to provocation. In doing so, they exposed the cruelty of racial segregation policies. Yet, at what cost? Self-defense is a natural reaction to perceived imminent violence. And suppressing that reaction to appease others is dehumanizing. Not to mention dangerous. A civil rights leader, Malcolm X often spoke about the need for self-defense within the black community. “Concerning nonviolence, it’s criminal to teach a man not to defend himself when he is the constant victim of brutal attacks.” In another instance, he said, “I don’t even call it violence when it’s in self-defense; I call it intelligence.” His teachings challenged the notion that Black Americans should “grin and bear it.”
When people receive fragments of a story, racist stereotypes often fill in the gaps. Social scientists suggest that prejudice causes individuals to make quick and firm judgments as they reduce ambiguity. Those who lack substantial real-world experience with Black people often assume the worst because this negative snap judgment is psychologically more comfortable. And as a result overlook a more realistic, nuanced portrayal. The public should be cautious of falling prey to stereotypes, as they contaminate perceptions of guilt in self-defense trials. We should also keep in mind that modern-day manifestations of racism are not always explicit, such as the expression of slurs or derogatory statements. However, that doesn’t mean they are uninfluenced by societal assumptions. Or flying above the fray. On the contrary, racial bias shapes our evaluations. It explains why people are more likely to rate a Black defendant as guilty and why they are so often wrongfully convicted of crimes, as our nation has a racial perception problem.
