SYSTEMIC RACISM
How We Know Black Men Will Bear The Burden of New Ski-Mask Laws
The prejudicial enforcement of laws is the problem
The over-policing of black communities turns seemingly race-neutral laws into tools of racial oppression. Jaywalking, for instance, is a crime that Black pedestrians are disproportionately charged with violating, even though there’s no evidence that Black people jaywalk any more than White people. Even truancy laws designed to stop children from skipping school are disproportionately applied to Black, Indigenous, and Latino students. One study showed Black Americans are five times as likely to be arrested compared to their White counterparts. Clearly, even when laws are designed to help or safeguard society, racism in law enforcement undermines the goal of this legislation. That’s why a new Philadelphia law that bans ski masks from being worn in some public spaces is raising eyebrows in the black community.
Does seeing a Black man wearing a ski mask make you shriek in fear? As a Black woman, “fear” is the last thing on my mind when I see someone wearing a face covering, especially in the month of December. It’s cold outside, and trying to stay warm is normal human behavior. But, far too often, White people assume the worst about Black people. A Black person with a ski mask is…
