At least there has been considerable progress over the decades, even if it has been slow. As someone who has been morally against any killing, including capital punishment, since I first contemplated this issue at 18, I remember when Americans were overwhelmingly in favor of capital punishment, & nearly every state used it.
The one thing that I think about is that killing is wrong. period, whether done by individuals or the government. It seems more like grotesque retribution than punishment. I know that's overly simplistic, but the fact that so many have been wrongfully convicted should also be a reason to err on the side of caution instead of taking the "cheap" way out. As you said, even one is too many.
As a former prosecutor but also a glad Illinoian, I have to point out a need in your data before claiming racial bias for sentences of death. Clearly, an 8.7 times more likely to get death needs to be looked at! Maybe it’s prosecutors more likely to ask for the penalty. I don’t know. Yet no way you can say these black and white defendants are charged with the exact same crime. All murders are murders but they have different facts, acts, intent, depravity, and different juries from different communities.
I remember when I first started work at St. Clair county States attorney’s office when a death penalty decision was set before a jury. The secretaries were excited to go watch the arguments. I remember asking how many people the defendant killed to get the death penalty. Eyes got big, eyebrows got raised and disdainful mouths cringed as they answered: just one. It had not occurred to me that killing one person morally qualified for death but I was clearly wrong. The cat saw the violent room to room murder and I believe this white man got the death penalty based on specific facts of horrific details of torture.
Without disagreeing that the death penalty is an antiquated approach that serves few legitimate societal values with the costs of appeals being astronomical and a true waste of societal pooled resources (and it’s permanent if new evidence ever comes to light), our evidence should be vetted.
You claimed proof of racial bias so here is your flaw and need for data: if black men are 13% of the population (black and white women are not likely on death row in significant numbers) and they make up 42% of death row that does not show bias as you say. It can only demonstrate racial bias if you provide additional proof. Tell us about the percent of the total of capital crimes committed, charged, tried, and sentenced for each race. What percent of those are black men? Then what percent gets death penalty?
I hope you see my point even as I agree with your positions. Without a real analysis of the numbers of murders committed, you cannot claim racial bias for a percentile view of sentencing on murder.
It’s not gender bias to notice that men commit more capital (and all) crimes than women so is it racial bias if the facts show that black men seem to value life less than the rest of us thereby snuffing it out more readily? Does this 13% make up 13% of capital crime? 42%? More? We are not told. This number counts if the system is to be accused of prejudice.
I think it is way more complicated and not a good argument against the death penalty. Great issues exist here for how to prevent crime, deal with poverty, under education, mental health care, jobs, drug issues, all kinds of things but in that Illinois county, my first year there saw 60 murders and nearly all were black men killing other black men. That’s a problem and it’s not directly caused by racial bias.
More than 75% of death row defendants who have been executed were sentenced to death for killing white victims, even though Black individuals account for about half of all homicide victims. This suggests a higher likelihood of receiving the death penalty if the victim is white (Death Penalty Information Center, 2023).
Prosecutors are more likely to seek the death penalty when the victim is white. Studies have shown that defendants are more likely to be sentenced to death if they are Black and the victim is white, reflecting racial biases in prosecutorial decisions (Amnesty International USA, 2023).
The racial composition of juries can also contribute to disparities. In many localities, all-white or nearly all-white juries are common, which can lead to harsher sentencing for Black defendants. For instance, in Philadelphia, Black defendants were found to be 3.1 times more likely to receive the death penalty compared to white defendants when both aggravating and mitigating circumstances were considered (Death Penalty Information Center, 2023).
Historically, the death penalty has been used disproportionately against Black individuals. For example, between 1930 and 1972, 89% of those executed for rape were Black, highlighting the racially biased use of capital punishment (Death Penalty Information Center, 2023).
Racial bias permeates the death penalty system at various stages, from charging decisions to jury sentencing. If you love Black Americans, if you love America, it is so important to earn the trust of our Black family by considering these systemic disparities when evaluating claims of racial bias in capital punishment.
“ First they came for the Communists And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Communist Then they came for the Socialists And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Socialist
Then they came for the trade unionists And I did not speak out
Because I was not a trade unionist
Then they came for the Jews And I did not speak out Because I was not a Jew Then they came for me And there was no one left
Thank you! We have to have evidence and you provided it. We still aren’t looking at the perception that black men are more likely to commit violent crimes even as they are a smaller percent of the population- causing some in advance bias in enforcement of the law. Fear is a factor more than prejudice even as they tie together. The motives are different when crime is involved. With all that hard to root out prejudice hidden in prosecution and juries- and remember we are dealing with heinous crimes whoever committed them, we might see that racial bias is not going to be the winning argument to eliminate the death penalty. The government lawyers, judges, appellate judges, and funding free defense lawyers for appeal is more costly than housing people in prison. This is hard to see but may persuade fiscal conservatives better.
Yes, racism is rooted in fear and power (Robert Livingston, Harvard social psychologist). Which is why to unravel the fear, racism must be addressed. But yes, appealing to wallets does tend to be an effective strategy in our heartless, dominant culture.
Executive Summary: Corporate Racial Equity (CRE) as a Lever of Systemic Change
Gillian Marcelle, PhD
The Executive Summary presents the approach, methods, results, and key insights of the Corporate Racial Equity as a Lever of Systemic Change research study, together with a recommended agenda for action.
At least there has been considerable progress over the decades, even if it has been slow. As someone who has been morally against any killing, including capital punishment, since I first contemplated this issue at 18, I remember when Americans were overwhelmingly in favor of capital punishment, & nearly every state used it.
Thank-you for publishing this important message!
The one thing that I think about is that killing is wrong. period, whether done by individuals or the government. It seems more like grotesque retribution than punishment. I know that's overly simplistic, but the fact that so many have been wrongfully convicted should also be a reason to err on the side of caution instead of taking the "cheap" way out. As you said, even one is too many.
I agree. We should not kill people on principle alone.
Yes well said.
As a former prosecutor but also a glad Illinoian, I have to point out a need in your data before claiming racial bias for sentences of death. Clearly, an 8.7 times more likely to get death needs to be looked at! Maybe it’s prosecutors more likely to ask for the penalty. I don’t know. Yet no way you can say these black and white defendants are charged with the exact same crime. All murders are murders but they have different facts, acts, intent, depravity, and different juries from different communities.
I remember when I first started work at St. Clair county States attorney’s office when a death penalty decision was set before a jury. The secretaries were excited to go watch the arguments. I remember asking how many people the defendant killed to get the death penalty. Eyes got big, eyebrows got raised and disdainful mouths cringed as they answered: just one. It had not occurred to me that killing one person morally qualified for death but I was clearly wrong. The cat saw the violent room to room murder and I believe this white man got the death penalty based on specific facts of horrific details of torture.
Without disagreeing that the death penalty is an antiquated approach that serves few legitimate societal values with the costs of appeals being astronomical and a true waste of societal pooled resources (and it’s permanent if new evidence ever comes to light), our evidence should be vetted.
You claimed proof of racial bias so here is your flaw and need for data: if black men are 13% of the population (black and white women are not likely on death row in significant numbers) and they make up 42% of death row that does not show bias as you say. It can only demonstrate racial bias if you provide additional proof. Tell us about the percent of the total of capital crimes committed, charged, tried, and sentenced for each race. What percent of those are black men? Then what percent gets death penalty?
I hope you see my point even as I agree with your positions. Without a real analysis of the numbers of murders committed, you cannot claim racial bias for a percentile view of sentencing on murder.
It’s not gender bias to notice that men commit more capital (and all) crimes than women so is it racial bias if the facts show that black men seem to value life less than the rest of us thereby snuffing it out more readily? Does this 13% make up 13% of capital crime? 42%? More? We are not told. This number counts if the system is to be accused of prejudice.
I think it is way more complicated and not a good argument against the death penalty. Great issues exist here for how to prevent crime, deal with poverty, under education, mental health care, jobs, drug issues, all kinds of things but in that Illinois county, my first year there saw 60 murders and nearly all were black men killing other black men. That’s a problem and it’s not directly caused by racial bias.
Thank you for your intelligent analysis!
More than 75% of death row defendants who have been executed were sentenced to death for killing white victims, even though Black individuals account for about half of all homicide victims. This suggests a higher likelihood of receiving the death penalty if the victim is white (Death Penalty Information Center, 2023).
Prosecutors are more likely to seek the death penalty when the victim is white. Studies have shown that defendants are more likely to be sentenced to death if they are Black and the victim is white, reflecting racial biases in prosecutorial decisions (Amnesty International USA, 2023).
The racial composition of juries can also contribute to disparities. In many localities, all-white or nearly all-white juries are common, which can lead to harsher sentencing for Black defendants. For instance, in Philadelphia, Black defendants were found to be 3.1 times more likely to receive the death penalty compared to white defendants when both aggravating and mitigating circumstances were considered (Death Penalty Information Center, 2023).
Historically, the death penalty has been used disproportionately against Black individuals. For example, between 1930 and 1972, 89% of those executed for rape were Black, highlighting the racially biased use of capital punishment (Death Penalty Information Center, 2023).
Racial bias permeates the death penalty system at various stages, from charging decisions to jury sentencing. If you love Black Americans, if you love America, it is so important to earn the trust of our Black family by considering these systemic disparities when evaluating claims of racial bias in capital punishment.
“ First they came for the Communists And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Communist Then they came for the Socialists And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Socialist
Then they came for the trade unionists And I did not speak out
Because I was not a trade unionist
Then they came for the Jews And I did not speak out Because I was not a Jew Then they came for me And there was no one left
To speak out for me”
Thank you! We have to have evidence and you provided it. We still aren’t looking at the perception that black men are more likely to commit violent crimes even as they are a smaller percent of the population- causing some in advance bias in enforcement of the law. Fear is a factor more than prejudice even as they tie together. The motives are different when crime is involved. With all that hard to root out prejudice hidden in prosecution and juries- and remember we are dealing with heinous crimes whoever committed them, we might see that racial bias is not going to be the winning argument to eliminate the death penalty. The government lawyers, judges, appellate judges, and funding free defense lawyers for appeal is more costly than housing people in prison. This is hard to see but may persuade fiscal conservatives better.
Yes, racism is rooted in fear and power (Robert Livingston, Harvard social psychologist). Which is why to unravel the fear, racism must be addressed. But yes, appealing to wallets does tend to be an effective strategy in our heartless, dominant culture.
Greater racial equity benefits everyone, including white people: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/robertwlivingston_equity-dei-racialjustice-activity-7171142510369615874-AJIH?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_ios
What is at the root of racism? Power and Fear https://www.linkedin.com/posts/robertwlivingston_theconversation-antiracism-socialpsychology-activity-7150848763656368128--Ttd?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_ios
If you don’t see color, you don’t see injustice:
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/paul-ladipo_diversityandinclusion-diversity-racism-activity-7205557691883094017-sMkS?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_ios
Executive Summary: Corporate Racial Equity (CRE) as a Lever of Systemic Change
Gillian Marcelle, PhD
The Executive Summary presents the approach, methods, results, and key insights of the Corporate Racial Equity as a Lever of Systemic Change research study, together with a recommended agenda for action.
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5e872258c8e23f6e7dad198d/t/664e79210f7f3e45b16b4bc3/1716418850412/1a.+Executive+Summary+Corporate+Racial+Equity+%28CRE%29+as+a+Lever+of+Systemic+Change_Marcelle_RCV_05222024.pdf