The Disproportionate Overrepresentation of Minority Youth in ...

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A black male reasoned that blacks did not receive as many chances as whites.
“They treat whites different than blacks because they give whites more chances than
blacks.” Another black youth stated that the police treat people differently because of the
color of their skin. “Nope, cuz of the color of your skin. I think they treat black people
different than they treat the whites. I really can’t tell, cuz I ain’t ever seen them arrest a
white person, but I just seen them arrest a lot of blacks.” Another black felt that the police
do not always have cause for questioning blacks. “No they stop people just to be
searching their car and to be messing with them. They pick on black males.”
A white male talked about Rodney King and how the police acted unfairly in this
situation. “No, not when they beat up Rodney King, they should have just taken him right
to jail.” Another white youth suggested that police base their decisions on race. “I feel
they treat some people differently because...it depends on their race and stuff.” The view
was also expressed by another white male, “No, cuz I guess they don’t treat young, black
males as equal as they do white. . .“
Next, youth were asked if they felt the police pick on blacks. A majority of both
races from the self reports indicate that the police pick on blacks. Seventy-seven percent
of the whites and 72 percent of the blacks replied that they felt the police pick on blacks
sometimes, most time or always. The interviews indicated some disagreement among
black youth and white youth regarding this issue.