Justice.... Biased or Not?

A stone fixture of hope and fairness promoting faith in an ever evolving legal system, Lady Justice stands tall. But with her blindfolded eyes and balanced scales of impartiality, she merely symbolizes what we DESIRE our justice system to be not what accurately represents its state today. The various stories that I have read on different threads and blogs...or seen in newspapers and on television describing personal discrimination from the law are significant examples of imperfect people (which we all are) placed in positions where not only is perfection expected but it is a necessity…a necessity only if we want to continue to believe with conviction that our justice system has no bias. Obviously, humans will never be perfect in every way; therefore, anything run by them will contain flaws as well.

Nowadays, reverse racism is just as prevalent as “traditional” discrimination. In my own personal opinion (as I continue with this example allow me to trivially point out that I am an African American woman), there is no difference between a White Woman grabbing her purse when she sees a black man and a Black Man assuming the white woman standing alone next to him on the elevator is prejudice because she clutches her purse closer. Sure…it happens, and oftentimes it is racially motivated…but surely not EVERY time? If we ever hope to evolve as a people, we can’t continue to use the Fear of being mistreated as a provocation to mistreat. Perhaps that means I’m secretly prejudice of all races and genders…because if I am alone on an elevator with ANYONE that I cannot physically overpower should a random criminal act occur, I become more guarded and aware as well. Of course, not to the extent of offending the other party or making myself seem psychotic…but enough to make myself consciously aware of my surroundings. Nowadays, you can never be too careful and indiscriminate violence is not limited to a particular race or gender..

Reactions to the O.J Simpson trial were divided almost squarely down the middle, with Whites favoring a Guilty conviction and Blacks championing for an Acquittal. The White community initially held O.J. in high regard. From his football and commentating careers, down to his acting stints…the world loved him. He even received preferential treatment from law enforcement during his tumultuous marriage to Nicole Brown. However, the persuasive case evidence presented by the prosecution quickly shifted their praise to disgust. Whereas, the Black community saw this trial as a conduit of future misconduct by law enforcement. Their focus was primarily on his race and the history of legal injustices in their culture. To Blacks, the evidence wasn’t compelling enough. Although he was freed on those charges, he is now currently serving time in prison for another crime. Was this conviction given on solid evidence or as retribution for the lost murder conviction 13 years ago? Please check out this site for great additional information! http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/simpson/oj.htm
Of course our White brothers and sisters express general faith in the Justice System. It was created, governed, and altered by their ancestors throughout history. Their personal run ins with the law, for the most part, have been consistent enough to raise such confidences. I’m sure they do not believe it is perfect, but I’m certain they do not share the same fears of the legal system that other races have due to the fact that these other races base their apprehension with the Justice System on those relevant occurrences in their immediate and historical pasts.

Without a doubt our Justice System is biased. In comparison to our legal structure of the past where murderers were knowingly set free (such as the Emmett Till case where two white men admitted to killing a black child AND sold the confession to a magazine but were still Acquitted), we have come a considerable way on the path of justice and equality. But we still have far to go. Our system is not only biased by race, but by economic status and even the political aspirations and goals of those facilitating the decisions. Realistically…NO bias should be tolerated in a system that determines the Life and even Death of another human being. But that again is looking for perfection from the imperfect…a never ending dilemma?